This thesis seeks to understand the role of audit in managing the performance of the NHS in Scotland and the impact which the relationship between performance and audit has upon key actors, including NHS organisations and national audit bodies. It is informed by Michael Power’s Audit Society (1999) and associated works, which present audit as a collection of ideas which shape how society defines control, accountability and transparency. The premise of this doctoral research is that the age of performance assessment in the NHS is evidence of Power’s Audit Society in action. A longitudinal analysis of annual Overview Reports produced by Audit Scotland, which symbolise the national audit body’s identity relative to the NHS, explores the impact which the performance assessment regime had upon the evolution of the national audit body and demonstrates the capacity of a national audit body to forge its own role in performance assessment and in doing so shift its identity from traditional external auditor to authoritative commentator on performance. A recent performance crisis in a Scottish NHS board is the subject of a case study which explores the role of audit when significant gaming is uncovered in a previously high-trust system. This case demonstrates how the ritual appeal of audit can be mobilised by the government to restore public confidence in reported improvements in performance across the whole NHS. The organisational impact of audit on performance management is explored through an observation-based case study set in a Scottish NHS board, which traces interactions between the main actors in audit and performance networks. These analyses show how audit can permeate the performance assessment of NHS bodies, at both the national and organisational level, even where it is not given a formal role in the assessment framework.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that the incidence of HIV/AIDS among the American population aged 50 years and over would account for 50% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the United States by 2015. Yet there is little research available about the reason for the high prevalence or the availability of interventions available for this population. The purpose of this study was to explore factors related to HIV/AIDS awareness in a group of older recipients of health care and their health care providers. This study was intended to help fill the information gaps in this area by using a conceptual framework based on systems theory and social network theory. A mixed-method design was used to collect data; semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 17 health care providers and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Structured exploratory surveys were distributed to a sample of 99 HIV/AIDS-positive adults, aged 50 and over, to understand common factors likely to have contributed to their infection and the results were compared to common factors already identified in the general population in the literature. Results of this study indicate possible communication barriers that exist between care providers and their older clients when discussing topics related to behavioral factors contributing to HIV/AIDS. This study contributes to social change by adding support to the importance of education programs and awareness campaigns about factors related to HIV/AIDS to curtail the spread of this disease among older adults.

Viešasis administravimas Lietuvos visuomenės sveikatos politikos įgyvendinimas: Pasvalio rajono mokyklų (1 – 12 klasių) vaikų sveikatos būklės ypatumai. Renata Nevulytė Mokslinis vadovas Prof. habil. dr. Kęstutis Kriščiūnas Šiaulių universitetas, Socialinių mokslų fakultetas, Viešojo administarvimo katedra. Šiauliai, 2011, Psl.sk. 100. Darbo tikslas: išanalizuoti Lietuvos visuomenės sveikatos politikos įgyvendinimo teorinius aspektus, išsiaiškinti Pasvalio rajono mokyklų vaikų sveikatos būklės ypatumus ir edukacines galimybes. Uždaviniai: 1. Išnagrinėti Lietuvos visuomenės sveikatos politikos įgyvendinimo esminius aspektus; 2. Nustatyti vaikų sveikatos ypatumus; 3. Atlikti vaikų sveikatos būklės analizę Pasvalio rajono mokyklose pagal vaiko sveikatos pažymėjimus; 4. Atskleisti vaikų sveikatos stiprinimo edukacines galimybes; Tyrimo hipotezė: tikėtina, kad jaunesnio mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų (1 – 6 kl.) sveikatos įvertinimo rodikliai yra geresni, ir tai sudaro geras prielaidas jų sveikatai išlaikyti ir pasiekti, kad ji neblogėtų, naudojant edukacines priemones, nei vyresnio mokyklinio amžiaus vaikų (7 – 12 kl.). Metodika: 1. Lyginamoji mokslinės literatūros analizė. 2. Mokinių sveikatos vertinimas, remiantis profilaktiniais sveikatos patikrinimų pažymėjimais. 3. Statistinė analizė (Exel programa skaičiuojamas mokinių sergamumas 1000 profilaktiškai pasitikrinusių sveikatą). Buvo skaičiuojami sveikatos pažymėjimų, kuriuos užpildo gydytojai profilaktinių patikrinimų metu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Public Administration The realization of health policy in Lithuania’s society: the peculiarities of children health conditions in the schools of Pasvalys Region (Forms 1-12) Renata Nevulytė Research Adviser: Prof. habil. dr. Kęstutis Kriščiūnas Šiauliai University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Public Administration, 2011, P. 100. The aim of the research: to analyze the theoretical aspects of the realization of health policy in Lithuanian’s society, to pay attention to the peculiarities of children health conditions and educational possibilities in the schools of Pasvalys Region. To achieve the aim the following objectives have been set: 1. To analyze the main aspects of the realization of health policy in Lithuania’s society. 2. To determine the peculiarities of children health. 3. To analyze health condition of children in the schools of Pasvalys Region according to the medical certificate of child. 4. To reveal the educational possibilities of strengthening of children health. The hypothesis of the research: it is believed that the index of health evaluation of younger school-age children (Forms1-6) is higher and it impacts the good assumptions of maintaining their health and to ensure that it does not get worse while using educational tools in comparison with older school-age children (Forms 7-12). Methods of the investigation applied in the work are as follows: 1. The descriptive – theoretical literary analysis. 2. The evaluation of children health was... [to full text]

The diploma thesis deals with the analysis of physical activity levels in younger and older school-age children. The theoretical part of the thesis is devoted to defining the concept of physical activity and other basic concepts related to it. It deals in more detail with the importance of physical activity for human health and proper development. It mentions the danger of physical inactivity and summarises the current valid knowledge regarding the recommended amount of physical activity. The theoretical part also contains the definition of the school-age period and characterises its specifics, regarding the content of thesis, especially in the field of physical development, which occurs in the younger and older school-age period. Important determinants affecting the state of physical activity are also discussed. The research part of the thesis then focuses on monitoring and subsequent analysis and comparison of the level of exercise in younger and older school-age children in a selected primary school. The research sample, methods used, and survey procedure are described. The obtained data is analysed and summarised in the results used to determine the level of physical activity in children in the given age groups and its comparison with health-oriented recommendations and among themselves....

This thesis deals with the health and quality of life of elementary school teachers. The aim of this thesis is to provide informations on selected aspects of the health and quality of life of teachers. The thesis is divided into theoretical part and research part. For the collection of data of research part was used the questionnaire method. The questionnaire verifies assumptions that have been drawn up on the basis of practical experience from the teacher's work. Some assumptions have been confirmed, others have not. At the end of the research, suggestions for a practice responding to the survey results are presented. The results of this thesis may serve as inspiration or initial evidence for deeper exploration of the phenomena of teaching practice. keywords: teacher, health, quality of life, drinking regime, school noise, teacher stress, teacher illness, teacher position in society, burnout syndrome, communication with parents