Journal of community health
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This study assessed the extent to which a belief in fate or destiny might explain certain health behaviors among African Americans. A survey of 1,253 African Americans in Alabama churches was conducted. Fifty-nine percent of the total sample indicated that they believe in fate or destiny. ⋯ Women who reported never having a breast exam were more likely to believe in fate and destiny than women who did not have a belief in fate or destiny. These findings highlight the need for practitioners to examine more closely the definition of fate and destiny and determine how this belief influences or does not influence health behaviors as once believed. The research suggests a closer examination of the role culture plays in health decision making which may be independent of a belief in fate and destiny.
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After the collapse of the Former Soviet Union a health reform process was undertaken in Georgia beginning in 1994. This process was intended to encompass all aspects of the health-care sector and to transform the Soviet-style health system into one that was directed towards quality of care, improved access, efficiency, and a strengthened focus on Primary Health Care (PHC). Health sector reform fundamentally changed the ways health care is financed in Georgia. ⋯ After 70 years of a Soviet rule, the country had no institutional capacity to provide insurance-based health care. To achieve universal coverage, or at least ensure that the majority of the population has access to basic health services, government intervention is essential. In addition, educating the public on reforms would allow the reform initiators to fundamentally change the nature of the reform process from a "top-down" centralized process to one that is demand-driven and collaborative.
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Firearm morbidity and mortality place an enormous burden on the health care enterprise and society at large. Recent research has shown strong public support for strategies to regulate firearms yet effective federal legislation to control the types of firearms sold, conditions of sale and purchase, limitation in transportation and storage, and responsibility for use of personally owned firearms has been limited. Thus the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Congressional voting on firearm control legislation and the following: political affiliation, military service, geographic location of representation, education level, sex, and gun rights and gun control contributions. ⋯ In the House, males (Odds Ratio [OR], 3.87), Republicans (OR, 13), those from the South (OR, 5), and those who received gun rights funds (OR, 13 to 203, depending on level of donations) were more likely to vote pro gun rights. In the Senate, support for gun rights occurred more often for those from the West (OR, 3.56), Republicans (OR, 130.50), or those who had received gun rights donations (OR, 28.00). This study has found a strong and consistent relationship between a Congressional member's position on firearm legislation and the amount of money received, political affiliation, and geographic location of representation.
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The objective of the study was to follow-up on important findings from a 1996 statewide survey of Indiana pharmacists regarding their opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies. More specifically, this study was designed to (1) collect 2001 state-wide data concerning the percentage of Indiana pharmacies selling cigarettes and to learn what pharmacists think about the sale of cigarettes in their stores; (2) compare these findings with results from a 1996 study; and collect new information on (3) whether a cigarette selling policy in pharmacies in which pharmacists are employed differs from their professional and personal values; (4) pharmacists' opinions related to state-wide initiatives on tobacco control in Indiana; and (5) the level of involvement with smoking cessation activities by community pharmacists. A 1996 survey instrument of Indiana pharmacists opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies served as the basis for questionnaire design. ⋯ This study found that the majority of pharmacists do not ask their patients about their smoking habits. In addition, an overwhelming majority of Indiana pharmacists were unfamiliar with a number of state public health programs/resources on smoking preven- tion and cessation. Nevertheless, it was very encouraging that nearly three-fourths of the pharmacies offer counseling programs for smokers who want to quit and more than one-half believed that increasing the state excise tax on cigarettes would be effective on tobacco control in Indiana.
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Comparative Study
Does knowledge count? Attitudes toward smoking among medical, nursing, and pharmacy students in Hungary.
Despite the fact that cigarette smoking in East Europe is a major health problem, no effective health policy responses have been developed thus far. Health care professionals represent a valuable resource for tobacco control. Therefore, we wanted to obtain information about the acceptance of smoking among medical, nursing and pharmacy students (n = 270) in Szeged, Hungary. ⋯ The high frequency of smoking among students suggests that they themselves are unable to cope with avoiding the dangers of smoking. Moreover, responses reflect a generally poor appreciation of responsibility that health care professionals have in prevention. There is a need for an increasing emphasis on smoking-related attitude formation among medical and nursing students.