Ethical issues in health education

Moral dilemmas abound during health education practice and ethical decisions have to be made. This article examines the contribution of the four guiding ethical principles (respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice) to nurse decision making. Multidisciplinary ethical guidelines to assist health educators to serve the best interests of patients and clients are suggested.     

Contemporary issues in mental health consultation.

Introduces readers to this special issue of the Consulting Psychology Journal, which focuses on current approaches to the provision of mental health consultation in a variety of settings and from varying theoretical persuasions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental issues in child health psychology.

Illustrates a developmental perspective in child health psychology by discussing research relating motor, cognitive, and psychosocial development to exposure to health hazards, to an understanding of behavior–health relationships, to the assumption of personal responsibility for health, and to behavioral and emotional responses to illness and injury. It is suggested that changes in motor skills and abilities affect the child's ability to interact with his/her physical environment and influence the likelihood of falling victim to health hazards. Cognitive and intellectual development is crucial to the child's ability to understand the relationships between behavior and health and illness and to make decisions about his/her health behavior. Psychosocial development is critical to the issue of individual responsibility in health behavior. It is proposed that a developmental perspective be added as a 4th dimension to the commonly employed 3-dimensional conceptualization of health psychology. (100 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meningitis: public health issues

This paper describes a case-note review of 25 cases of meningococcal disease which occurred in the six months following distribution of pre-admission antibiotic treatment packs and prophylaxis advice packs. The data showed that while these interventions had improved some aspects of public health, and management of cases and their contacts, further action was needed     

Children's mental health issues.

Despite considerable justification for scholarly and policy interests in mental health services to children, both have been neglected issues. Based on the Office of Technology Assessment's report on the mental health needs of children, this article discusses current federal programs, the inadequacies of federal policies and delivery systems, and the paucity of research to support the development of cost-effective treatment and prevention strategies. Optimal mental health for this nation's children rests on developing a more complete understanding of children's mental health problems and their causes. To achieve this goal, changes are necessary in the way we conceptualize, finance, and provide care for children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical issues in rural mental health practice.

Argues that the unique characteristics of rural environments for mental health practice create potential ethical dilemmas for practitioners, including confidentiality, limits of competence, and multiple levels of relationships. These issues make practice in rural areas difficult, but close attention to the American Psychological Association's ethical principles and rural environments themselves reveals positive suggestions for solutions (e.g., the rural practitioner should examine the resources of the rural environment for solutions to problems that result from that environment). (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public health medicine training

Training in public health medicine uses a 'trainer-trainee' model for learning similar to that used in general practice. In order to examine the quality of training in the South Western region of the UK, a questionnaire was devised to assess both adequacy and importance of various factors for training. The results of the survey identified key areas for further discussion and were used as the basis of an interactive study day. One interesting finding was the difference in perceptions of trainers and trainees, possibly illustrating the differences between trainees' 'demands' and trainers' perceptions of trainees' 'needs'.     

Public health in a new coalition agreement

In drawing up a new coalition agreement in the Netherlands, public health and health care will be important issues. The government now has the opportunity, by planning well, to correct the negative image of public health care (expensive and inefficient) and to cope with major problems, such as long waiting lists and unequal access to care. Requirement are agreement on a realistic percentage of volume growth, based on demographic trends, good agreement on conditions of employment efficient use of funds which citizens can understand, limiting drug prices and outlining a health care system for the future that is transparent and universally accessible, with collective responsibilities clearly delineated. Furthermore research on public health and health care should be stimulated.     

Public health implications of ageing

Household pets were examined when we carried out an investigation to study intrafamilial spread of group A streptococcal infection. Cultures were taken from 114 index cases, and 61 pets. Group A streptococci were demonstrated in eye secretions from 2 pets. Transmission of group A streptococci from humans to pets and vice versa can probably occur, but is uncommon.