scholarly journals Handwashing: a household social vaccine against COVID 19 and multiple communicable diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 2708
Author(s):  
Swayam Pragyan Parida ◽  
Vikas Bhatia
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Cost Effective Measure ◽  
Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis

Handwashing is the most cost-effective measure for prevention of a wide spectrum of diseases from respiratory, intestinal, soil transmitted helminthiasis, health-care associated illness to infection with pandemic potential like SARS, MERS and COVID 19. Experts view that handwashing can be the greatest investment in the mankind as it reduces under nutrition, morbidity, mortality and paves way for growth, development, educational attainment of people and thereby achieving healthier communities. Though the evidence of handwashing on health is two centuries old but change in human behaviour seems critical in both developing and developed countries. Hand hygiene is rarely practiced during crucial moments and even rarely soap is used. Therefore emphasis should be given towards a societal shift in behaviour change among children, caretakers and people of all age groups. Every school, community and hospital should be provided with Safe water, Sanitation and adequate Hygiene (WASH) services. Hand hygiene to be given top priority in national health plans by which millions of unnecessary deaths and burden on health care system can be avoided. Nevertheless under the looming threat of the current COVID 19 pandemic, where the exact epidemiology is still evolving and a vaccine doesn’t seem feasible as an immediate measure to control the disease, handwashing should be considered as a ‘social vaccine’ for everyone at every household level.

Clinical Competence: A Review of the Health Care Literature with a Focus on Occupational Therapy

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Salvatori
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Clinical Competence ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Evaluation Measures ◽  
Certification Examinations ◽  
Broad Meaning ◽  
Cost Effective Measure

This paper provides a review of the health care literature on clinical competence with a focus on occupational therapy. A simple know-can-do hierarchical model provides a framework for understanding the concept of clinical competence and for exploring the issues related to its definition and assessment. While there is general agreement across the health professions regarding the broad meaning of competence, the profession-specific components have been more difficult to identify and measure. Much of the research on the assessment of clinical competence has focused on the validity of certification examinations, especially in medicine, or on the evaluation of student performance, as is the case in occupational therapy. Although a variety of evaluation measures have been developed, the evidence is clear that one comprehensive tool that provides a reliable, valid and cost-effective measure of clinical competence does not exist; therefore, a combination of evaluation methods is needed for assessment purposes. Defining and assessing competence remains a particular challenge for the profession of occupational therapy.

In vitro assessment of mineral blocks as a cost-effective measure to reduce oral bioavailability of lead (Pb) in livestock

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (20) ◽  
pp. 25563-25571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Pareja-Carrera ◽  
Jaime Rodríguez-Estival ◽  
Rafael Mateo ◽  
Mónica Martinez-Haro
Keyword(s):  
Oral Bioavailability ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
In Vitro Assessment ◽  
Cost Effective Measure

Interventions to reduce social isolation amongst older people: where is the evidence?

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 647-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBYN A. FINDLAY
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Cost Effective Measure

As the population ages and more people are living alone, social isolation amongst older people is emerging as one of the major issues facing the industrialised world because of the adverse impact it can have on health and wellbeing. This article reviews the empirical literature published over the last 20 years on the effectiveness of interventions that target social isolation amongst older people. The results reveal that although numerous such interventions have been implemented worldwide, there is very little evidence to show that they work. It is concluded that future intervention programmes aimed at reducing social isolation should have evaluation built into them at inception, and that the results of the evaluation studies, whether positive or negative, should be widely disseminated. Where possible, as a cost-effective measure, pilot or demonstration projects should precede these interventions. Some key elements of successful interventions to counter social isolation amongst older people are presented.

scholarly journals The effect of face mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of mask use in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Maloney
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
The United States ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Cost Effective Measure

ABSTRACTAs COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the United States, there has been a search for policies to prevent individual infections, to slow the spread of the virus in general, and to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Masks have proven to be a cost-effective measure in all regards, and as such some state governments have begun to mandate their use. However, while the efficacy of masks has been demonstrated, the efficacy of public policies which mandate the use of masks has not been demonstrated. This paper compares the rates of mask use in counties as defined by state policy. It finds that state mandates are strongly correlated with higher rates of mask use, and that mandating use by all individuals in public spaces is more effective than a less comprehensive mandate for mask use by all public facing employees.

Alcohol Fat Clearing Increases Lymph Node Yield after Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 1054-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjun Duldulao ◽  
Cassie Booth ◽  
Laura Denham ◽  
Audrey Choi ◽  
Garrett Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Rectal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy ◽  
Oncologic Outcome ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Oncologic Outcomes ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Lymph Node Yield ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cost Effective Measure

Lymph node (LN) yield is associated with oncologic outcome in patients who undergo surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). Standards to maximize LN yield have been initiated to enhance treatment of patients with CRC. This study evaluates the impact of a simple alcohol-based preparation protocol on LN yield. Surgical specimens from patients with CRC were prepared using either the alcohol protocol or standard formalin fixation and LN yield was compared. In total, 80 consecutive patients (n = 40 formalin, n = 40 alcohol) were examined. Overall, median LN yield increased from 17 to 29 ( P < 0.01) with the alcohol fat clearance protocol. For patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent proctectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, LN yield increased from 15 to 23 ( P = 0.02). The frequency of need for additional sampling to achieve a minimum 12 LN count was also reduced. Initiation of a standardized alcohol fat-clearing protocol increased LN yield after surgery for CRC. This simple, cost-effective measure may improve the efficiency of LN assessment and accurate staging, which may impact oncologic outcomes.

Psychiatry and the Burden of Mental Illness

1998 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 801-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger C Bland
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Projections ◽  
Changing Practice

Objective: To examine the morbidity produced by mental disorders, to project changes in morbidity likely to be produced by demographic and economic change, and to review the possible role of psychiatry in the health care system. Methods: Using prevalence data for psychiatric disorders and population projections, this paper presents the likely changes in morbidity over the next 20 years. A review of social and economic information indicates changes in social attitudes and their effects on mental health. This paper examines the determinants of health and how they are likely to change and explores some possible directions for changes in health care delivery. Results: Psychiatric disorders have been greatly underestimated as a cause of disability but account for 5 of the 10 leading causes of disability and 47.2% of all years lived with a disability (YLD) in developed countries. By 2016, there will be significant changes in the distribution and type of psychiatric disorders seen in the population, with cases of dementia almost doubling. Most of the population growth will be in the older age-groups, who will be well informed and will demand high standards of service. The gap between rich and poor will increase, and the results of childhood poverty and abuse will become more apparent. The disadvantaged, including many mentally ill, will suffer deprivation as disability payments decline, but youth unemployment will improve, possibly reducing crime rates. Forced early retirements will decline. Alternative medicine will make inroads into health care. A crisis in subsidized accommodation for the elderly can be anticipated, which perhaps will lead to reopening institutions that are currently being closed or to developing new forms of care. As the baby boomers pass 50 years of age and begin consuming health care services, governments will revise plans and eligibility for services; users will pay for services more directly. Conclusions: Psychiatry is very vulnerable to minor changes in health care schemes and will increasingly be called on to show economic arguments to justify its services. Pressure to support a primary care model by changing practice styles, developing new skills, and training practitioners will probably occur. The major growth area likely will be geriatric psychiatry.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document