Health Professionals Can Protect Water Quality

Author(s):  
Rosemary Ziemba ◽  
Benjamin E. Cuker ◽  
Joyce Stein ◽  
Rebecca Meuninck ◽  
Jiayi Angela Wan

Emerging research shows adverse health outcomes such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and neurotoxicity from water pollutants such as flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, and pharmaceuticals. Medical waste and energy use affects water quality and quantity. This chapter provides strategies for health professionals to promote water stewardship at personal, organizational and policy levels. Organizations such as Health Care Without Harm, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and the Ecology Center offer resources for improving education of health professionals and provide allies for change. Individual advocacy through writing op-eds, policy briefs, meeting with legislators and participation in coalitions allows health professionals to interpret the science behind the need for policy changes. Recommendations for health care curricula prepare students to develop sustainable practices through inter-professional collaboration. Environmentalists can use this information to better engage health professionals in promoting change.

2019 ◽  
pp. 562-602
Author(s):  
Rosemary Ziemba ◽  
Benjamin E. Cuker ◽  
Joyce Stein ◽  
Rebecca Meuninck ◽  
Jiayi Angela Wan

Emerging research shows adverse health outcomes such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and neurotoxicity from water pollutants such as flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, and pharmaceuticals. Medical waste and energy use affects water quality and quantity. This chapter provides strategies for health professionals to promote water stewardship at personal, organizational and policy levels. Organizations such as Health Care Without Harm, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and the Ecology Center offer resources for improving education of health professionals and provide allies for change. Individual advocacy through writing op-eds, policy briefs, meeting with legislators and participation in coalitions allows health professionals to interpret the science behind the need for policy changes. Recommendations for health care curricula prepare students to develop sustainable practices through inter-professional collaboration. Environmentalists can use this information to better engage health professionals in promoting change.


Author(s):  
Rosemary Ziemba ◽  
Benjamin E. Cuker ◽  
Joyce Stein ◽  
Rebecca Meuninck ◽  
Jiayi Angela Wan

Emerging research shows adverse health outcomes such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and neurotoxicity from water pollutants such as flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, and pharmaceuticals. Medical waste and energy use affects water quality and quantity. This chapter provides strategies for health professionals to promote water stewardship at personal, organizational and policy levels. Organizations such as Health Care Without Harm, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and the Ecology Center offer resources for improving education of health professionals and provide allies for change. Individual advocacy through writing op-eds, policy briefs, meeting with legislators and participation in coalitions allows health professionals to interpret the science behind the need for policy changes. Recommendations for health care curricula prepare students to develop sustainable practices through inter-professional collaboration. Environmentalists can use this information to better engage health professionals in promoting change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z A Kozicki ◽  
S J S Baiyasi-Kozicki

Abstract Issue By 2025, half of the world's population will be living in water-stressed areas. Managing water quality and quantity is a worldwide concern that will require investing in WATER Centers and monitoring systems to improve the safety of drinking water and contribute to water conservation worldwide. Without reliable water policy climate change will threaten human survival. Problem There is no single measure that can describe overall water quality for any one body of water, let alone at a global level. Seven assessment methods used to measure water quality either on a national or global level, were reviewed and indexed. This index was examined and compared by objective, use, distribution and global location. Water centers need to review community water process, outcomes and outputs and also provide user populations with a Water Quality and Water Quantity Index (WQQI). Results United Nations Environment Programme UNEP research has revealed that “although there is no globally accepted composite index of water quality, some countries and regions have used, or are using, aggregated water quality data in the development of water quality indices.” 'Most water quality indices rely on normalizing, or standardizing data by parameter according to expected concentrations and some interpretation of 'good' versus 'bad' concentrations”. Lessons The survival of the human population requires policy changes regarding water management. The feedback humans need to survive can best be described as a Water Quality and Quantity Index (WQQI). With the growing scarcity of drinking water worldwide, proactive strategic thinking and planning is necessary. Message: Investing in WATER Centers ensures that the public health and economic benefits for all things related to water is optimized. The WQQI could also be useful in longitudinal and cross-sectional epidemiological studies. Key messages The survival of the human population requires policy changes regarding water management. Mankind needs real-time feedback about water quality to respond to threats to the water supply.


2020 ◽  

Background: The relationship between oral health and general health is gaining interest in geriatric research; however, a lack of studies dealing with this issue from a general perspective makes it somewhat inaccessible to non-clinical public health professionals. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to describe the relationship between oral health and general health of the elderly on the basis of literature review, and to give non-clinical medical professionals and public health professionals an overview of this discipline. Methods: This study was based on an in-depth review of the literature pertaining to the relationship between oral health and general health among the older people. The tools commonly used to evaluate dental health and the academic researches of male elderly people were also reviewed. And future research directions were summarized. Results: Dental caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, and xerostomia are common oral diseases among the older people. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the leading causes of missing teeth and edentulism. Xerostomia, similar to dry mouth, is another common oral health disease in the older people. No clear correlation exists between the subjective feeling of dryness and an objective decrease of saliva. Rather, both conditions can be explained by changes in saliva. The General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) are the main assessment tools used to examine oral health and quality of life in the older people. The GOHAI tends to be more sensitive to objective values pertaining to oral function. In addition, oral health studies in male elderly people are population-based cohort or cross-sectional studies, involving masticatory function, oral prevention, frailty problems, cardiovascular disease risk, and cognitive status. Conclusion: It is possible to reduce the incidence of certain oral diseases, even among individuals who take oral health care seriously. Oral health care should be based on the viewpoint of comprehensive treatment, including adequate nutrition, good life and psychology, and correct oral health care methods. In the future, researchers could combine the results of meta-analysis with the clinical experience of doctors to provide a more in-depth and broader discussion on oral health research topics concerning the older people.


Author(s):  
Heather L. Welch ◽  
Christopher T. Green ◽  
Richard A. Rebich ◽  
Jeannie R.B. Barlow ◽  
Matthew B. Hicks

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (9) ◽  
pp. 2861-2876
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Kazemi ◽  
Sam Abdollahian ◽  
Thomas D Rockaway ◽  
Joshua Rivard

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Hyatt ◽  
Ruby Lipson-Smith ◽  
Bryce Morkunas ◽  
Meinir Krishnasamy ◽  
Michael Jefford ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Health care systems are increasingly looking to mobile device technologies (mobile health) to improve patient experience and health outcomes. SecondEars is a smartphone app designed to allow patients to audio-record medical consultations to improve recall, understanding, and health care self-management. Novel health interventions such as SecondEars often fail to be implemented post pilot-testing owing to inadequate user experience (UX) assessment, a key component of a comprehensive implementation strategy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to pilot the SecondEars app within an active clinical setting to identify factors necessary for optimal implementation. Objectives were to (1) investigate patient UX and acceptability, utility, and satisfaction with the SecondEars app, and (2) understand health professional perspectives on issues, solutions, and strategies for effective implementation of SecondEars. METHODS A mixed methods implementation study was employed. Patients were invited to test the app to record consultations with participating oncology health professionals. Follow-up interviews were conducted with all participating patients (or carers) and health professionals, regarding uptake and extent of app use. Responses to the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) were also collected. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive descriptive methodology; all quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS A total of 24 patients used SecondEars to record consultations with 10 multidisciplinary health professionals. In all, 22 of these patients used SecondEars to listen to all or part of the recording, either alone or with family. All 100% of patient participants reported in the MARS that they would use SecondEars again and recommend it to others. A total of 3 themes were identified from the patient interviews relating to the UX of SecondEars: empowerment, facilitating support in cancer care, and usability. Further, 5 themes were identified from the health professional interviews relating to implementation of SecondEars: changing hospital culture, mitigating medico-legal concerns, improving patient care, communication, and practical implementation solutions. CONCLUSIONS Data collected during pilot testing regarding recording use, UX, and health professional and patient perspectives will be important for designing an effective implementation strategy for SecondEars. Those testing the app found it useful and felt that it could facilitate the benefits of consultation recordings, along with providing patient empowerment and support. Potential issues regarding implementation were discussed, and solutions were generated. CLINICALTRIAL Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000730202; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373915&isClinicalTrial=False


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Krishna Prasad Pathak

BACKGROUND Health professionals (HPs) play a key role in dementia management and detection. However, there is a gap in the literature as to what represents best practice with regard to educating HPs to improve their dementia detection practices and management. OBJECTIVE The objective of this scoping review is to synthesize the aggregated studies aimed at improving health care knowledge, detection practices and management of dementia among HPs. METHODS We searched electronically published relevant articles with inclusion criteria; (1) intervention studies aimed at improving HPs practices concerning dementia care and (2) educational interventions focused on nurses and doctors’ knowledge, detection practice and management of dementia. Twenty-five articles fit the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Collaborative programs of practice based workshops, interactive learning activities with community and multi-faced educational program were the most effective. CONCLUSIONS HPs should be supported to improve their knowledge, tackle behavioural problems associated with dementia, be made aware of services and be enabled to engage in more early diagnosis. CLINICALTRIAL no applicable


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document