Beyond the Causes of Disease

Author(s):  
Mariacarla Gadebusch Bondio
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
M. L. Shteiner ◽  
A. V. Zhestkov ◽  
N. E. Lavrentieva

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common disease that could lead to death. Pathogenesis of COPD involves both genetic and environmental factors. Such unfavorable production factors as dust, smoke, toxic and biologically active substances are the causes of disease in 15% of cases.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenrick Chan ◽  
George Samoutis

UNSTRUCTURED Abstract Patient-centred medicine (PCM) involves looking at more than just a disease and how to treat it. It has evolved from the realisation that all patients are different physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially, and it therefore encompasses all of these domains in its application. The mainstay of this approach is the promotion of a mutual relationship between patient and doctor that involves creating a secure environment to allow for open dialogue. By learning to listen to patients, and exploring other causes of disease other than physiological ones, doctors are able to provide a holistic approach to treatment. Patients are also actively encouraged to participate in the decision making process by adding their ideas, concerns and expectations. This negotiation allows for flexibility and individualisation of each treatment plan that is tailored to suit each individual patient. In essence, PCM encourages concordance: the agreement between doctor and patient on how to proceed towards a common goal. It is therefore important to teach medical students about PCM as early on in their medical education as possible. This will give them time to hone skills in communication so that they can better understand and explore their patient’s circumstances as well be aware of other domains that may require support. But how can medical schools effectively teach their students PCM? Here we suggest the use of expert patients as a beneficial method for promoting PCM in medical school curriculums as students have the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of what a patient with a specific disease actually feels, what impact it has on their lives and those around them, and what support they find lacking or useful. Encourage medical curriculums to incorporate expert patients as a resource of information to teach future doctors abotu patient-centred medicine and its holistic objectives.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. CODELL CARTER

In early-nineteenth-century medical literature, one finds an elegant symmetry between causes of disease and causes of death: both were sufficient causes of particular events. However, as I will argue, by the end of the century physicians no longer sought sufficient causes of individual disease episodes – instead almost all of medical research was organized around the quest for necessary causes that were shared by all the episodes of each particular disease. Such causes carried great practical and theoretical advantages: they enabled physicians to control and to explain disease phenomena.One might wonder why there has been no parallel change in our thinking about causes of death; to this very day, causes of death are sufficient causes of particular events. In principle there is no apparent reason why we could not identify necessary causes for classes of deaths – indeed, we sometimes do so. But, in the case of death, such causes hold little interest. Because of how they are used, sufficient causes for individual deaths are more interesting and more important to us than are necessary causes of deaths. Thus, the change in thinking about causes of disease – the change that destroyed the symmetry between causes of disease and causes of death – may not reflect simply progress within a fixed system of medical goals and values, but a profound change in the social role of physicians.


2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (S1) ◽  
pp. 41-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. O'Connor

Epidemiology, which addresses the health of populations rather than that of individuals, is a complex discipline with a special language and set of methodologies that distinguish it from clinical research. Its objectives include identifying the causes of disease, mapping patterns of use of healthcare services, and measuring the costs to the community of mental and physical illness.


Author(s):  
Liz O’Brien

Mental health problems have become one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide. This study used qualitative mixed methods including in-situ ‘being and doing’ activities with participants, interviews, and participant observations to explore participant’s experiences of a multi-visit nature-based intervention at Westonbirt Arboretum in England. The research found that three engagement types: (1) social, (2) woodland craft, and (3) creative and sensory, provided a meaningful programme to engage those with mental health, addiction, autism and behavioural problems. These types of engagement conferred a wide range of well-being benefits on participants. The study highlights key elements of the programme that were effective including the importance of repeat visits to nature to enable familiarity, using creative, sensory and craft activities, creating a supportive environment, involving the volunteers, and understanding the needs of participants and the organisations that work with them. The research suggests that nature-based programmes can be designed to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of participants with mental health and behavioural problems. Small numbers of participants can be involved in an intensive and immersive way that encourages an emotional affinity with nature. Inclusive and supportive programmes are particularly important for those who are vulnerable, as they are less likely to engage with nature than the wider population.


1977 ◽  
pp. 80-130
Author(s):  
Julien L. Lancker
Keyword(s):  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4361
Author(s):  
Philippe P. Hujoel

Ignoring evidence on causes of disease such as smoking can harm public health. This report explores how public health experts started to ignore evidence that pediatric vitamin D deficiencies are associated with dental caries. Historical analyses show that an organization of clinical specialists, the American Dental Association (ADA), initiated this view. The ADA was a world-leading organization and its governing bodies worked through political channels to make fluoride a global standard of care for a disease which at the time was viewed as an indicator of vitamin D deficiencies. The ADA scientific council was enlisted in this endeavor and authorized the statement saying that “claims for vitamin D as a factor in tooth decay are not acceptable”. This statement was ghost-written, the opposite of what the ADA scientific council had endorsed for 15 years, and the opposite of what the National Academy of Sciences concluded. Internal ADA documents are informative on the origin of this scientific conundrum; the ADA scientific council had ignored their scientific rules and was assisting ADA governing bodies in conflicts with the medical profession on advertising policies. The evidence presented here suggests that professional organizations of clinical specialists have the power to create standards of care which ignore key evidence and consequently can harm public health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Parker ◽  
Anwar A. Hoosen ◽  
Charles Feldman ◽  
Amgad Gamil ◽  
Jerusha Naidoo ◽  
...  

The Hajj is the largest annual mass gathering on Earth. Respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of disease and hospitalisation during the pilgrimage, with pneumonia and influenza most common among these infections despite the availability of prophylactic vaccines. In fact, immunisation against influenza and pneumococcal disease is currently not a requirement for South African pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. This review examines the burden of respiratory infections during the Hajj, particularly pneumonia and influenza, with a focus on pilgrims from South Africa. Although the number of South African pilgrims attending the Hajj has been capped at 2 000 since 2013, 30 000 South Africans perform the minor Umrah pilgrimage annually. Understanding the aetiology of disease in this group could have implications for medical resourcing during the Hajj.


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