scholarly journals Consensus Guidelines: Agreement and Debate Surrounding the Optimal Management ofHelicobacter pyloriInfection

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
D McNamara ◽  
C O’Morain

Helicobacter pyloriis a recognized cause of a variety of gastroduodenal pathology. The high prevalence of bothH pyloriinfection and related diseases within the community warrants its consideration as a public health care issue. The availability of reliable and safe noninvasive diagnostic techniques coupled with the development of effective and tolerable treatments has enabled primary health care personnel to manage this infection actively. The role of the primary care physician in the future management ofH pyloriinfection is thus of central importance. The wealth of evidence produced by over 15 years of research intoH pylorihas expanded the list of disease associations and treatment benefits as well as elucidated the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. As a result, there has been a growing need to harmonize this information with clinical practice and to provide direction for the appropriate management by both specialists and general practitioners. Several national guidelines have been produced. The areas relating toH pyloriinfection that they considered and their recommendations vary. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health produced globally accepted recommendations for the management ofH pylori-related peptic ulceration. The broader role ofH pylorias a gastroduodenal pathogen and a public health care issue was not addressed. Recently, European and Canadian consensus guidelines have been published that identified overall management issues, including the role of primary and specialist care, and considered the appropriateness of employing eradication therapy for the spectrum of conditions in whichH pylorihas a direct or indirect association based on the available information. These guidelines, while in agreement regarding many issues, differ considerably in their recommendations for primary health care and regarding central issues such as the management of dyspepsia and gastric cancer. Some variations may reflect differing health care structures as well as the prevalence of both infection and associated diseases. However, the interpretation of evidence produced by recent research contributes to their conflicting statements.

Author(s):  
R Evans

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly prevalent within South Africa. Physical inactivity is a significant, independent and modifiable risk factor increasing the prevalence of NCDs.Discussion: The integration of physical activity programmes into the primary health care system through multidisciplinary platforms is thus advocated for and envisioned to be more cost-effective than current practices. However, currently within the primary health care setting of South Africa, there is an absence of health care professionals adequately equipped to develop and implement physical activity programmes. Biokineticists, whose scope of practice is to improve physical functioning and health through exercise as a modality, are ideally suited to developing and implementing physical activity programmes in the public sector. Yet despite their evident demand, the role of the biokineticist is not incorporated into the national public health care system.Conclusion: This short report calls firstly, for the inclusion of biokinetics into the public health care sector, and secondly, for the funding of multidisciplinary community health programmes supporting education, healthy eating and physical activity levels.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 476-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari Ojeda Ocampo Moré ◽  
Charles Dalcanale Tesser ◽  
Li Shih Min

Objective Primary health care (PHC) is the main entry point and the first level of contact for individuals, families and communities within the Brazilian public health system. Considering that few studies have investigated the use of acupuncture in PHC, this article presents our experience in the city of Florianópolis when integrating acupuncture into PHC using an educational programme developed to teach acupuncture to primary care physicians (PCPs). Methods The course programme was designed using the WHO standards for acupuncture training and discussed at three consensus meetings. Between 2011 and 2014 three iterations of an introductory acupuncture course for PCPs were offered. During this period 53 physicians finished the programme. Results The number of acupuncture sessions in PHC rose from 1349 in 2011 to 6488 in 2015. It was observed in 2015 that 81% of the course participants working in PHC were regularly using acupuncture in their daily practice, with a mean number of sessions of 11.35 sessions per month. Moreover, collaborative work, which started during the course between the PCPs and the acupuncture specialists in secondary and tertiary public health care, helped to increase the quality of acupuncture referrals and facilitate clinical case discussions. Conclusions Our experience in the city of Florianópolis shows that teaching acupuncture to PCPs is a sustainable model that can help introduce acupuncture into PHC. Furthermore it can expand access to acupuncture treatment for the population and increase the communication between PCPs and acupuncture specialists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Annette Kaspar ◽  
Aleki Fuimaono ◽  
Shaun Mauiliu ◽  
Sione Pifeleti ◽  
Junior Posini

Background: Surgeons are scarce in the Pacific Islands, and improvements to public and primary health care services should reduce the burden of avoidable surgical interventions. Three communicable and non-communicable diseases of public health concern in Samoa are filariasis, childhood overweight/obesity, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastric cancer. Strengthening existing public and primary health care strategies for these issues should, in turn, reduce the avoidable surgical burden of Hydrocelectomy for filarial hydrocele, in-situ pinning for Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis (SUFE), and endoscopic Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (EGD) for the differential diagnosis of H. pylori-induced gastric pathologies. This study aimed to perform a literature review of these conditions requiring surgical intervention in the Pacific Islands to contribute recommendations to the current public and primary health care activities in Samoa.  Method: A literature review was conducted using the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. The primary search strategy utilized the terms and keywords “Pacific Islands”; “Filarial Hydrocele”; “SUFE”; “H. pylori-induced gastric pathology”; and their relevant synonyms. Inclusion criteria: the study population were Pacific Islanders residing in the Pacific Islands, and the study investigated presentation, etiology, epidemiology, treatment, and/or management for the three diseases of interest. Articles published before 2000 were excluded.  Results: There was only one journal article that met the inclusion criteria.  There is virtually no research literature on the current state of these preventable surgical conditions among the population residing in the Pacific Islands.  Conclusion: Data are needed to inform evidence-based policy formulation and implementation. The surgical voice should positively contribute to public health efforts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 2290
Author(s):  
Cláudia B. Santos-Pinto ◽  
Claudia S. Osorio-de-Castro ◽  
Larissa M. Ferreira ◽  
Elaine S. Miranda

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection emerged in Brazil in 2015, leading to the declaration of a national public health emergency, mainly due to its consequences for pregnant women and newborn babies. The Zika epidemic demanded major efforts from the public health system to address the full range of disease consequences. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Primary Health Care pharmacists working in the city of Campo Grande in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Methods: A qualitative cross-sectional interview-based study with pharmacists working in municipal Primary Health Care services was carried out to investigate knowledge about the disease and involvement in the response to the health emergency. Informed consent was obtained. After coding, the corpus underwent thematic analysis. Results: The data show that few professionals had received specific training in public health. Knowledge largely encompassed disease transmission by the mosquito and collective and individual preventive measures. Findings highlight knowledge gaps relating to signs and symptoms, diagnosis, consequences of infection, and the role of epidemiological surveillance. Most professionals mentioned at least one of the recommendations on the use of medicines in symptom management protocols. The practical implications surrounding knowledge gaps and misconceptions were reflected in pharmacists´ role in response, restricted to counselling on preventive measures. Few respondents participated in institutional groups and committees or in multiprofessional teams involving case management. Conclusions: The study identified important knowledge gaps and showed that the involvement of pharmacy professionals in the response to the Zika epidemic was timid or inadequate. The results also suggest that pharmacists failed to recognize their role in interventions related to the ZIKV epidemic. Findings highlight the need to increase the involvement of primary care pharmacists in community-based actions, for communication and reduction of health risks, and emergency preparedness and response.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Aulawi Aulawi ◽  
Riris Andono Ahmad ◽  
Mubasysyir Hasanbasri

Role of the head of public health centers from public health graduates and others on improving managerial skills in East OkuPurposeThis study aimed to understand how public health and non-public health backgrounds affect management skill of primary health care heads, based on ten managerial roles. MethodsThis study was a descriptive study with case-series method, using qualitative methods supported by quantitative data. Eight people were recruited as respondents. They consisted of 4 people that were primary healthcare heads with public health background and 4 people that were primary healthcare heads with non-public health background. Respondents were recruited by purposive sampling. Data collection was performed using in-depth interviews and questionnaire. ResultsPrimary healthcare head with public health background owned more work experience than those with non-public health background. Period of employment in primary health care had an influence on managerial capabilities. There were no significant differences of period of employment in primary health care head positions among the longest with the least to the managerial capabilities. Primary health care heads who had been trained with PIM IV training and other structural positions were known to have better management capabilities, especially compared to the leadership role of those who had not been trained.ConclusionThere was no significant difference in managerial capacity between primary health care heads with public health and those with non-public health background.


Author(s):  
Nabi Yessimov ◽  
◽  
Nailya Izmailova ◽  
Dauletkhan Yessimov

The article aims to examine public opinion to achieve a synergistic effect and thereby integrate primary patient feedback in the organization of the promotion of primary care and public health. The leading method to the study of this problem is the questionnaire survey that has afforded revealing issues of regulation of primary and public health care, and in particular, the state of the psychological attitude of patients to primary health care integrated into the public health system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In order to study the organization of the Primary Health Care System integrated into Public Health Service, 400 healthcare workers were questioned. The authors also analyzed socio-psychological factors that affect the quality of the provision of qualified primary health care. The practical novelty of the study is that the organization of the synergic system of primary health care and public health is implemented based on the public administration system and local systems of public health evaluation. It was concluded that it is more expedient to build a system of integration of primary health care and public health based on feedback from the people and a formation of a spatially distributed network of public medical organizations, which will reduce the burden on, particularly busy areas.


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