Introduction: Influenza illness is considered to be associated with high mortality, morbidity and economic loss. Numerous studies and mathematical simulations are conducted to understand the disease pattern, transmission dynamics, and psychosocial response of the population; however, little is known about the health seeking behavior of patients after the onset of respiratory infection symptoms. Respiratory infections exert substantial burden on the health care system of Hong Kong, therefore in addition to detecting the disease early, it is necessary to understand health care utilization behavior of the population. This information will not only benefit to formulate public health policies, it will also improve the preparedness plan to deal with future pandemics. Objective: To examine the influence of factors such as gender, age, education and occupation on the health seeking behavior of Hong Kong citizens and to understand the magnitude of health care utilization by the patients with respiratory infections. Method: This study is based on the data from a large randomized controlled trial of 703 households comprising of 2,586 individuals. Bi-weekly telephone contact was established with these households to assess the health seeking behavioral response of the individuals with respiratory infection episodes separately for laboratory confirmed influenza, and two other clinically defined infection episodes that are influenza like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess the health care utilization within various health care delivery institutions. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to determine the association of demographic factors with the health seeking behavior of individuals with respiratory infection episodes. Fischer exact test was used to analyze the association of promptness of health care contact with ARI and ILI episodes. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of demographic factors of ILI patients with early health care contact. Results: The results showed that seeking health care varied by the severity of illness and characteristics of the patients/ parents. As compared with the patients of ARI (non-ILI) episodes, higher proportion of ILI patients sought medical care and among all the health care delivery systems, private health care delivery system was attended by majority of the patients. Individuals with ILI episodes more likely to seek health care were male patients by 66% (Crude OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.01-2.77), and children below 10 years by 219% (Crude OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.30-7.79). Within the group of laboratory confirmed influenza patients, adjusted odds ratio showed male patients 243% more likely to seek health care (Adjusted OR 3.43; 95% CI 1.01-11.63). Unemployed ILI adult patients were less likely to seek medical care (Crude OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.15-0.98), and employed ARI (non-ILI) patients were 52% more likely to attend medical care (Crude OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.10-2.08). Health care contact within 24 hours of onset of symptoms was significantly associated with ILI patients (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.33-2.59; p-value 0.0003) showing that patients with febrile ARI were more likely to seek early health care rather than patients with afebrile ARI. Conclusion: The differences in the health seeking behavior demonstrated in this study indicate inequalities in the health care services utilization. Higher and earlier utilization of health care services by patients with ILI episodes during low influenza activity period might result in the overburdening of the health care system. In order to address these issues, policy makers should have a clear understanding of populations’ preventive and enabling factors to seek health care, perceptions of the risk of disease, self-care behaviors and health education levels. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

No description available.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine whether wellness management students would have higher levels of wellness than students who are not studying wellness, and (b) to determine if the results of the Stages of Change measurement questionnaire would correlate positively with the results of a standardized wellness measurement questionnaire. The first issue was examined by comparing total wellness levels of wellness management graduate students with total wellness levels of nonwellness management graduate students, as measured by the Testwell Wellness Inventory. There was no statistical difference between the two groups. This suggests that wellness students may not be effective models in their chosen field. The second issue was examined by testing whether the Stages of Change measurement questionnaire would correlate positively with the Testwell total wellness score. Study results showed that if students scored high in wellness, they would score in a high Stages of Change category. This suggests that the Stages of Change questionnaire may be used to measure readiness for general lifestyle behavior change. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

Australia's population as estimated at 30 June 1997 was 18.5 million of which 23.3 percent were born overseas. People from non-English speaking countries account for 14.2 percent of the Australian population. The 1996 Census shows that 2.6 million in Australia speak a language other than English at home. Therefore, no one can deny that Australia's society is characterised by cultural and linguistic diversity. In this context, migrant health services, and policies and the needs of people from different cultural backgrounds in the area of health have been addressed since the early 1980s. This thesis draws attention to the concept of 'health' as a fundamental dimension embedded in the area of health care and its related policies, services, programs, and health instruments. This current study questions the idea of universality in the concept of 'health' which suggests that a certain meaning and construction of health can be applied to any culture and society. For this purpose, a qualitative study was designed to explore the concept of health within a group of Iranians in Australia and to examine the appropriateness of the aspects and constructs of health identified in the SF-36, a self-report health status questionnaire developed in the United States, for an Iranian population. The methodology used in this research sought to collect qualitative data with a sample of 21 Iranians- 10 females, and 11 males. The NUD.IST program was used to organise and manage the data for the first time in the Persian language. Findings from the research provided evidence of the ways a sample of Iranians understood health and its embedded dimensions. The themes that emerged from the transcripts as significantly reflecting participants' conceptualisation of health included harmony, health as a concept which is both emotional and physical; integrated, spiritual aspect of health; tranquillity, physical and emotional aspects of health; social and familial relationships; and absence of disorder. Using these themes, a framework consisting of the components of health was developed. The components of the framework include holistic, spiritual, dualistic, social, operational, oppositional, and comparative and relative dimensions. Findings provide evidence which supports the assumption that a group of Iranians have certain views of 'concepts of health'. The results from the research provided evidence that some of the items and constructs relating to health included in the SF-36 seem to be problematic when administered to an Iranian population. The findings of the thesis suggest that a qualitative inquiry into Iranians' discourse of health and its dimensions should be made with an Iranian group before administering an instrument such as the SF-36. Analysis of findings suggests a number of recommendations and modifications when the SF-36 is translated from English into Persian and administered to a group of Iranians.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-53).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Joan Gussow. Dissertation Committee: Isobel Contento. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-131).

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "December 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-90). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / "The Wellness knowledge attitude, and behavior instrument", copyrighted 1994 by Mary K. Dinger inserted after leaf 103. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-100). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / "The Wellness knowledge attitude, and behavior instrument", copyrighted 1994 by Mary K. Dinger inserted after leaf 103. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-100). Also available on the Internet.