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Foreword.
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| Article Type: | Editorial |
| Author: | Younis, Mustafa Z. |
| Pub Date: | 12/22/2009 |
| Publication: | Name: Journal of Health and Human Services Administration Publisher: Southern Public Administration Education Foundation, Inc. Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Government; Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Southern Public Administration Education Foundation, Inc. ISSN: 1079-3739 |
| Issue: | Date: Winter, 2009 Source Volume: 32 Source Issue: 3 |
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| Accession Number: | 250034404 |
| Full Text: |
I am very pleased to introduce this Special Issue on Public Health,
Healthcare Policy, and Financing & Economics for the Journal of
Health and Human Service Administration. This Special Issue has articles
covering topics in Public Health and Health Service Research. Also this
issue has articles related to the health care of special minorities in
USA. The issue consists of five papers which address topics from
differing perspectives of interest to healthcare policy makers, academic
researchers and practitioners. The symposium for this Special Issue was
posted and advertised on a national scale. It was promoted at the
International Society of Healthcare Financial Management (RHFM.org). All
of the papers for the symposium were subjected to blind, peer review and
the authors revised the manuscripts in accordance with the Guest
Editor's and reviewers' comments. The first paper in this issue, authored by Miguel A. Zuniga, Genny Carrillo-Zuniga, Yoon Ho Seol, and Peter Fos is titled "Multi-Criteria Assessment of County Public Health Capability Disparities". The authors developed an analytical approach to assess county-specific population health disparities based on weighted scores. The capability scores used in the model measure the consolidation of public health related indicators and the indicator weight elicited from public health experts. The resulting geographic-specific scores are representative of the level of public health capability within counties in the State of Mississippi. The second paper, authored by Joseph Inungu, Vincent Mumford, Mustafa Younis, and Sara Langford examines the significant decline in HIV mortality in the United States following the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The authors examined the HIV knowledge, attitudes, and practices among undergraduate students enrolled at a rural Midwestern university in the United Stated. Notwithstanding the high level of knowledge about HIV in this population, misconceptions about HIV/AIDS and denial about their vulnerability to HIV underscore the need for innovative and bold strategies to address these issues to protect the new generation. The third paper by Fatma G. Huffman, Joan A. Vaccaro and Subrata Nath discusses the quality of Diabetes Self Management among Cuban Americans. The authors investigate the relationship among factors predicting inadequate glucose control among 182 Cuban-American adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Florida. They found that participants who were told to schedule meals were more likely to plan meals; moreover, when and given a prescribed diet, the sample was more likely to follow a meal plan. Adequate glucose control corresponded to following a meal plan. The advantage of having a medical professional prescribe a diet appears to be an important environmental factor for diabetes care. The fourth paper by Gail Washington and Ming Fang Wang-Letzkus, explores the self-care practices, health beliefs and attitudes of older diabetic Chinese Americans in two Adult care facilities in Southern California. Usng a qualitative community based participatory approach, the auhtors used in depth interviews and focus groups, to understand how the lack of acculturation of Chinese Americans directly affect access to appropriate medical care, resources, and knowledge about Type II diabetes. Ultimately, self-care management of the disease was ineffective. Building on the strengths of participants rather than the weaknesses, the authors identified self- reliance as a value and prevailing theme within the community and will use it to guide self-care interventions for this community. While this pilot study provides insight into the health beliefs, attitudes, and self-care practices of older diabetic Chinese Americans, the authors will use this important information to develop and implement evidence-based, culturally significant interventions targeted at this as well as other Chinese American communities. The 5th paper by Mustafa Younis, Belal Barhem, Samir Hamidi, Joseph Inungu, Gwendolyn Prater and Arthur O'Keefe, discusses the regulations in the business and health care environment. The article comes at the time of the new debate to regulate the financial and health care market and other health care reform proposals on 2009. The authors balanced their reviews by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of regulations in United States. The papers conclude that some of the legislations and regulations in the health care sector lead to improve the efficiency and safety. However regulations should always keep the door open for new discoveries in medicine and drugs. I trust that the reader will find the papers in this Special Issue to be both interesting and provocative, and that they will provoke further research, case studies and demonstrations in the field of Health Services Administrations, and Public Health. I gratefully acknowledge the valuable guidance and feedback provided by the Ad-Hoc Editorial Board and Dr. Gwendolyn S. Prater, the Founding Dean, College of Public Service, and Dr. Velvelyn Foster, Provost, Jackson State University for their support to complete this symposium. The completion of this Special Issue would not have been possible without the many hours contributed by all of the anonymous reviewers who dedicated their time and expertise to helping make this Special Issue a reality. Final list of the AD-Hoc Editorial Board for Journal of Health and Human Service Administration Yusuf Celik, PhD Ankara, Turkey Dr. Ali Al Sayed Hussain, MS, Ph.D. Director--Pharmaceutical Services Dept. Dept. of Health, Dubai, UAE Dana Forgione, Ph.D University of Texas- San Antonio San Antonio, TX Peter J. Fos, Ph.D., M.P.H. Professor & Provost The University of Texas at Tyler Michael.Hartmann, Ph.D. School of Medicine Jena University Jena, Germany Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Ph.D. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TX Zeba M. Khan, PhD Vice President Celgene Corporation Summit, NJ Adnan Kisa, Ph.D. President, Zirve University Sehitkamil, Gaziantep, Turkey Josephine Mauskopf, Ph.D. RTI Health Solutions Research Triangle, NC Angie R.Sassard, MD General Surgeon Metaire, LA William Ward, DrPH University of South Florida Tampa, F MUSTAFA Z. YOUNIS Jackson State University |
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