scholarly journals Impacts of extreme weather on the health and well-being of people who are homeless

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine G. A. Pendrey ◽  
Marion Carey ◽  
Janet Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Expected Increase

This letter responds to the article by Cusack et al., ‘Extreme weather-related health needs of people who are homeless’ (Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2013, 19(3), 250–255), which addressed the impacts of extreme weather on the health of the homeless population in inner city Adelaide. We compare the findings of Cusack et al. to our own original research, based on interviews with service providers to the homeless in urban and rural Victoria. We further place this issue in the broader context of climate change, which is crucial given the expected increase in extreme weather events and associated health impacts.

scholarly journals Symbiotic relationships in patients' engagements with practice nurses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Elsa Lally
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Narrative Inquiry ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

<p>Practice nurses engaging with patients is a daily activity in general practice. However, there is little research to assess these relationships from a primary health care, general practice standpoint. The purpose of this new and original research was to explore from patients' perspectives what occurs in general practice, and to establish how the engagements patients have with practice nurses influences patients' health and well-being. The conceptualisation of symbiotic relationships between practice nurses, general practitioners receptionists and patients described in this study, shows how these relationships work in practice, and how they shaped patients' perspectives of their engagements in the general practice setting. Although each person’s role was independent and capable of existing without the other, a mutually beneficial close association was developed.  From the experiences of 15 patients from seven rural and urban general practices in New Zealand, using Narrative Inquiry methodology informed by life course theory and White’s (2010) dimensions of well-being, the co-constructed stories gathered from the participants were analysed applying a modification of McCormack’s (2001) multiple lens model. Findings from the individual participant stories revealed three major themes – general practice activity, health focused practice, and professional comforting. Each of these themes described aspects of the participants' relationships and engagements with practice nurses that contributed to their health and well-being. The co-constructed stories described participants' relationships and engagements, not only with practice nurses but also with general practitioners and receptionists. The presence of the (often unseen) overarching doctor and of practice nurses filling the gap in patients' care was evident. Patients described practice nurses as both support for the doctor and as autonomous practitioners. Ease of access to practice nurses significantly contributed to patients obtaining competent health promoting care. Particularly cogent were the findings that practice nurses directly contributed to patients' health and well-being through nurses' skilled compassion and skilled companionship. Nurses actively listened to patients' concerns, suggesting strategies to move patients forward, while at the same time, providing space for them to move at their own pace. Receptionists were viewed as the 'fronts people' of the practice who triaged patients' health concerns, making decisions relating to whom the patient consulted, the doctor or the nurse.  By building on existing theories in Narrative Inquiry methodology, data collection and analysis, this research makes an important contribution to nursing knowledge. It provides new perspectives about nurse-patient relationships, as well as other relationships within general practice. The research also demonstrates that while there has been a significant increase in collaboration between nurses and general practitioners over time, this collaboration is distinct from the symbiotic relationships described. The findings have implications for health professionals' everyday practice, and for Primary Health Organisations and District Health Boards when undertaking health professional education and funding reviews. Future research into patients' relationships with practice nurses, doctors and receptionists, and how these relationships contribute to patients' health and well-being is necessary.</p>

Climate Change and Human Well-Being in the 2020s: Lessons From 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110121
Author(s):  
Mary C. Sheehan
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Climate And Health

Behind the coronavirus headlines the year 2020 set multiple extreme weather records, including unprecedented wildfires in Australia and California, massive flooding in China, and back-to-back hurricanes in Central America. The impacts on the well-being of local populations have been devastating. We reviewed these extreme weather events, together with the year’s newly published climate and health science reports, and identified three important themes for building health resilience in the decade ahead: (1) preparing for greater magnitude and intensity of climate hazards, extreme events, and population health impacts; (2) better anticipating cascading and compound impacts on population well-being, particularly for the most vulnerable; and (3) identifying appropriate, effective preparedness tools and strategies. While decarbonizing the economy is the urgent goal to protect both human and planetary health from a changing climate, 2020 demonstrates that recognizing the likely magnitude and complexity of future extreme weather events, and preparing local public health agencies and communities with the knowledge and tools to respond to them, will be essential in this critical decade.

Cities and extreme weather events: impacts of flooding and extreme heat on water and electricity services in Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 095624782095203
Author(s):  
Sam M Kayaga ◽  
Ebenezer F Amankwaa ◽  
Katherine V Gough ◽  
Rob L Wilby ◽  
Mercy A Abarike ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Heat Demand ◽  
Urban Settlements

Extreme weather events disproportionately affect residents of low-income urban settlements in the global South. This paper explores the impacts of extreme heat and flooding on water and electricity services in Accra and Tamale, Ghana. Interviews with water/electricity providers and water quality analysis are combined with household interviews, focus group discussions and observations conducted in eight low-income urban settlements. The findings highlight the interconnected nature of service provision during extreme weather events, with challenges in one sector reinforcing problems in another, exacerbating difficulties with access. Although households can utilize rainwater during flooding, it is highly susceptible to faecal contamination, and electricity supplies are often disconnected. During extreme heat, demand for water and electricity outstrips supply, leading to severe shortages, especially in Tamale. Water and electricity service providers should consider their interconnected nature and adopt a joined-up approach to cope with extreme weather events, which are predicted to increase with climate change.

scholarly journals Symbiotic relationships in patients' engagements with practice nurses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Elsa Lally
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Narrative Inquiry ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

<p>Practice nurses engaging with patients is a daily activity in general practice. However, there is little research to assess these relationships from a primary health care, general practice standpoint. The purpose of this new and original research was to explore from patients' perspectives what occurs in general practice, and to establish how the engagements patients have with practice nurses influences patients' health and well-being. The conceptualisation of symbiotic relationships between practice nurses, general practitioners receptionists and patients described in this study, shows how these relationships work in practice, and how they shaped patients' perspectives of their engagements in the general practice setting. Although each person’s role was independent and capable of existing without the other, a mutually beneficial close association was developed.  From the experiences of 15 patients from seven rural and urban general practices in New Zealand, using Narrative Inquiry methodology informed by life course theory and White’s (2010) dimensions of well-being, the co-constructed stories gathered from the participants were analysed applying a modification of McCormack’s (2001) multiple lens model. Findings from the individual participant stories revealed three major themes – general practice activity, health focused practice, and professional comforting. Each of these themes described aspects of the participants' relationships and engagements with practice nurses that contributed to their health and well-being. The co-constructed stories described participants' relationships and engagements, not only with practice nurses but also with general practitioners and receptionists. The presence of the (often unseen) overarching doctor and of practice nurses filling the gap in patients' care was evident. Patients described practice nurses as both support for the doctor and as autonomous practitioners. Ease of access to practice nurses significantly contributed to patients obtaining competent health promoting care. Particularly cogent were the findings that practice nurses directly contributed to patients' health and well-being through nurses' skilled compassion and skilled companionship. Nurses actively listened to patients' concerns, suggesting strategies to move patients forward, while at the same time, providing space for them to move at their own pace. Receptionists were viewed as the 'fronts people' of the practice who triaged patients' health concerns, making decisions relating to whom the patient consulted, the doctor or the nurse.  By building on existing theories in Narrative Inquiry methodology, data collection and analysis, this research makes an important contribution to nursing knowledge. It provides new perspectives about nurse-patient relationships, as well as other relationships within general practice. The research also demonstrates that while there has been a significant increase in collaboration between nurses and general practitioners over time, this collaboration is distinct from the symbiotic relationships described. The findings have implications for health professionals' everyday practice, and for Primary Health Organisations and District Health Boards when undertaking health professional education and funding reviews. Future research into patients' relationships with practice nurses, doctors and receptionists, and how these relationships contribute to patients' health and well-being is necessary.</p>

The relevance of climate information in the assessment of flood regulating ecosystem services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thea Wübbelmann ◽  
Steffen Bender ◽  
Benjamin Burkhard
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Weather Events

&lt;p&gt;Extreme weather events, failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are some of the main global risks. Climate change is one of the major drivers for ecosystem and biodiversity loss as well as for higher frequency and intensity of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Consequently, ecosystem health and the provision of ecosystem services (ES) is affected by the increasing pressures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, the provision of ecosystems must be ensured in order to guarantee and maintain human well-being. To define the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems there exist the concept of ES that links social and environmental systems to achieve sustainable use and discover trade-offs between different ES.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With respect to the increasing number of flood events (pluvial and fluvial) and of affected persons in the last years, one important key ES under external pressure is flood regulation. It describes the capacity to reduce flood hazards. Amongst other factors, climate change has a high impact on flood characteristics. Currently, most studies analyse the present status of flood regulating ES. Changing climate conditions and associated functionalities of the flood regulating ES are mostly not taken into account. This study shows the importance of assessing the current and future functionalities of flood regulating ES. In order to adapt ecosystems and their functionalities to projected climate impacts, it is important to consider regional climate information in the estimation process for flood regulating ES.&lt;/p&gt;

Redesigning healthcare systems to meet the health challenges associated with climate change in the twenty-first century

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Lit Phua, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
First Century ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Twenty First Century

In the twenty-first century, climate change is emerging as a significant threat to the health and well-being of the public through links to the following: extreme weather events, sea level rise, temperature-related illnesses, air pollution patterns, water security, food security, vector-borne infectious diseases, and mental health effects (as a result of extreme weather events and climate change-induced population displacement). This article discusses how national healthcare systems can be redesigned through changes in its components such as human resources, facilities and technology, health information system, and health policy to meet these challenges.

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