The health-disease process: a reflection in the light of medical anthropology

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Lucas Pereira de Melo ◽  
Elizabeth Regina de Melo Cabral ◽  
José Ademário dos Santos Júnior

Objective: to discuss the health and disease concepts based on Medical Anthropology. Methods: this is about a critical reflection study. Therefore, was done a critical analysis of modern medical practices and their relationship with the culture. This discussion is based on, mainly, authors' experience in this study and research field and in the literature review. Results: it was discussed the paradigm concept’s and yours developments in health field. Some contributions that the field of Medical Anthropology has brought to the study of the health-disease process. Conclusions: finally, highlighted the importance of a critical perspective and theory based on the various events included in the health-disease and contributions for health professionals. Descriptors: health-disease process; medical anthropology; delivery of health care.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
Carlo V. Bellieni

Recent newspapers reports have named health professionals as “heroes”. This is surprising, because in the last few decades, doctors and nurses have been taken into account by mass media only to describe cases of misconduct or of violence. This change was due to the coronavirus pandemic scenario that has produced fear in the population and the need for an alleged “savior”. This need for health professionals seen as heroes is also disclosed by the fact that even politicians have abdicated to their role in favor of the healthcare “experts” to whom important decisions on social life during this pandemic have been delegated, even those decisions that fall outside of the specific health field. This commentary is a claim to framing the job of caregivers in its correct role, neither angel nor devil, but allied to the suffering person, that the image of “heroes” risks to overshadow.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1302
Author(s):  
Patrice D. Cani ◽  
Emilie Moens de Hase ◽  
Matthias Van Hul

The field of the gut microbiota is still a relatively young science area, yet many studies have already highlighted the translational potential of microbiome research in the context of human health and disease. However, like in many new fields, discoveries are occurring at a fast pace and have provided new hope for the development of novel clinical applications in many different medical conditions, not in the least in metabolic disorders. This rapid progress has left the field vulnerable to premature claims, misconceptions and criticism, both from within and outside the sector. Tackling these issues requires a broad collaborative effort within the research field and is only possible by acknowledging the difficulties and challenges that are faced and that are currently hindering clinical implementation. These issues include: the primarily descriptive nature of evidence, methodological concerns, disagreements in analysis techniques, lack of causality, and a rather limited molecular-based understanding of underlying mechanisms. In this review, we discuss various studies and models that helped identifying the microbiota as an attractive tool or target for developing various translational applications. We also discuss some of the limitations and try to clarify some common misconceptions that are still prevalent in the field.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saori Ohkubo ◽  
Sarah V. Harlan ◽  
Naheed Ahmed ◽  
Ruwaida M. Salem

Over the past few decades, knowledge management (KM) has become well-established in many fields, particularly in business. Several KM models have been at the forefront of promoting KM in businesses and organisations. However, the applicability of these traditional KM models to the global health field is limited by their focus on KM processes and activities with few linkages to intended outcomes. This paper presents the new Knowledge Management for Global Health (KM4GH) Logic Model, a practical tool that helps global health professionals plan ways in which resources and specific KM activities can work together to achieve desired health program outcomes. We test the validity of this model through three case studies of global and field-level health initiatives: an SMS-based mobile phone network among community health workers (CHWs) and their supervisors in Malawi, a global electronic Toolkits platform that provides health professionals access to health information resources, and a netbook-based eHealth pilot among CHWs and their clients in Bangladesh. The case studies demonstrate the flexibility of the KM4GH Logic Model in designing various KM activities while defining a common set of metrics to measure their outcomes, providing global health organisations with a tool to select the most appropriate KM activities to meet specific knowledge needs of an audience. The three levels of outcomes depicted in the model, which are grounded in behavioural theory, show the progression in the behaviour change process, or in this case, the knowledge use process, from raising awareness of and using the new knowledge to contributing to better health systems and behaviours of the public, and ultimately to improving the health status of communities and individuals. The KM4GH Logic Model makes a unique contribution to the global health field by helping health professionals plan KM activities with the end goal in mind.


Author(s):  
Fiona Lynch ◽  
Sharon Lewis ◽  
Ivan Macciocca ◽  
Jeffrey M. Craig

Abstract Epigenetics is likely to play a role in the mediation of the effects of genes and environment in risk for many non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory presents unique opportunities regarding the possibility of early life interventions to alter the epigenetic makeup of an individual, thereby modifying their risk for a variety of NCDs. While it is important to determine how we can lower the risk of these NCDs, it is equally important to understand how the public’s knowledge and opinion of DOHaD and epigenetic concepts may influence their willingness to undertake such interventions for themselves and their children. In this review, we provide an overview of epigenetics, DOHaD, NCDs, and the links between them. We explore the issues surrounding using epigenetics to identify those at increased risk of NCDs, including the concept of predictive testing of children. We also outline what is currently understood about the public’s understanding and opinion of epigenetics, DOHaD, and their relation to NCDs. In doing so, we demonstrate that it is essential that future research explores the public’s awareness and understanding of epigenetics and epigenetic concepts. This will provide much-needed information which will prepare health professionals for the introduction of epigenetic testing into future healthcare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-116
Author(s):  
Łukasz Kurowski

Abstract While the legitimacy of the concept of the financial cycle (as distinct from the business cycle) in research and economic policy after the experience of the global financial crisis raises no concerns, the methodology for its application has become a subject of discussion. The purpose of this article is to indicate which research methods dominate in identifying a financial cycle and which methodological traps accompany them. The low level of critical perspective on the methods used to identify cycles often results in conclusions that have no economic justification and may result in erroneous decisions in economic policy and central bank practice. The case study carried out in the article confirms that the key elements in identifying a financial cycle are part of a long-term series covering at least two lengths of the financial cycle. In addition, because the results may be sensitive to the type of filter used, it is important not to rely on a single variable but rather to build indexes that take into account a number of them (including those obtained using filtration methods).


Author(s):  
Josep Ma. Monguet ◽  
Alex Trejo ◽  
Tino Martí ◽  
Mireia Espallargues ◽  
Vicky Serra-Sutton ◽  
...  

“Health Consensus for the Assessment of Chronic Care Programs” (HC-ACP) is an internet based application created to promote and facilitate the participation of health professionals in the definition of a set of indicators for the assessment of chronic care and management of areas of improvement in this field. The first prototype of the application has been applied twice, first in the region of Catalonia, and in a second project in the context of the whole Spanish Health System. HC-ACP has collected contributions from more than 800 health professionals from around Spain including profiles in the fields of management, health care professional, health planning and quality assessment, allowing sharing and aggregate knowledge and clinical experience from a wide range of points of view. After a process of literature review and panel meetings with professionals who proposed a wide list of indicators, the HC-ACP application was used to select a minimum set of indicators following a participative process based on Health Consensus, an online Real Time Delphi method. The first part of this chapter is devoted to expose paradigms that define the interdisciplinary research field of the method, the second part of the chapter presents the Health Consensus method, and finally the third part exposes a detailed description of the HC-ACP application and the followed process. Besides the relevance and utility of the Health Consensus method, the action-research conducted to build the application proves the efficiency and effectiveness of getting health professionals really involved in the processes of defining the models to assess the healthcare system. The online method proposed has been accepted by participants who have expressed high levels of satisfaction during the participation process.


Author(s):  
Anet E. Dreyer ◽  
Andries G. Van Aarde

Biblical models of marriage: A critical perspective The Christian marriage finds itself in a crisis. Churches worldwide are struggling to find answers to address the problem in their communities. The book of Adrian Thatcher “Marriage after modernity, Christian marriage in postmodern times”, is a resent publication which endeavours to formulate guidelines for marriage in postmodern society. This article is an attempt to give an overview of, as well as a critical reflection on the Biblical models as identified in his research. Although Thatcher’s “models” are of utmost importance in the recent debate, it is necessary to select certain perspectives within his models that are still applicable in postmodern times. This first article describes and evaluates his models, whilst the second article focuses on the relevancy thereof in postmodern times.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document