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Biomedical subjects

A Zwi

Publications and source records attributed to A Zwi.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Beyond 'clinical'?: four-dimensional medical education.

Medical education is in crisis. Undergraduates experience an excessive burden of information, develop attitudes to learning that are based on passive acquisition of knowledge than on curiosity and exploration, and suffer from progressive disenchantment with medicine. There is also a serious problem of providing adequate clinical experience for medical students at existing teaching sites, largely because of reduction in bed numbers, increased patient throughput and clinical specialization. This problem was identified over a decade ago in London but has not been solved by the merger of medical schools. A recent survey in one London teaching hospital showed underemployment of students and limited patient contact. A review of clinical clerkships in an Australian medical school revealed that one-third of teachers were perceived as unconcerned, discouraging, derogatory or hostile, and only one-half were rated as effective educators. One consequence has been the development of a wide-ranging debate on changing medical education. Traditionalists have diminishing room for manoeuvre in defence of existing educational practices, as cautious bodies like the General Medical Council (GMC) opt for fundamental reform.

Community Medicine↗
PubMed1993

Health professionals and South Africa: supporting change in the health sector.

Now that political change is on the way in South Africa, what should be the position of doctors who are invited to visit the country? Does the "academic boycott" still have relevance? Waterston and Zwi review the case for and against an academic boycott policy, using evidence collected during the recent visit by Physicians for Human Rights (UK) and the Johannes Wier Foundation. The health system in South Africa is still inequitable, and despite progress towards desegregation in hospitals there is little momentum towards universal provision of primary health care, especially in the rapidly growing townships around big cities. The authors consider that pressure on the government should be maintained by outside organisations but that support directed towards appropriate health care should be encouraged, particularly in public health and primary health care.

Attitude↗
PubMed1989

Towards an epidemiology of political violence in the Third World.

Political violence is distressingly widespread in many parts of the world. This paper reviews the forms and effects of political violence and devotes particular attention to experiences from Central America and Southern Africa. The forms of violence vary from those which are extensive such as civil unrest and war, to those which are intensive, such as assassinations, disappearances and torture. The effects of violence on health may be direct, such as deaths, disabilities, psychological stress and the destruction of health services, or indirect such as the erosion of innovative health policies in favour of increased military expenditure. Health workers have a role to play in opposing political violence, providing care for those affected by violence, and documenting and analysing its impact on health. Research needs include documenting the impact of different forms of violence on health, and analysing the social and political factors which promote and support political violence. It is hoped that increasing recognition of political violence and man-made violence as being of major public health concern will play a part in promoting a more peaceful world.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1988

Occupational health and safety in South Africa: the perspectives of capital, state and unions.

South Africa is one of the most technologically advanced countries of Africa. The main sectors are mining, agriculture and industry. Many work environments are dangerous. Since the early development of the mines in South Africa, occupational health and safety (OHS) has received the attention of the state, the employers, and the workers. Although there have been some advances in legislation, conditions are often still poor and enforcement of legislation is lacking. The paper outlines the history of concern with OHS issues, and draws attention to the Erasmus Commission of Enquiry (1976) into Occupational Health. The paper attempts to provide an overview of the different activities and perspectives of these interest groups: the state is concerned with minimising conflict and disruption of productivity, while ensuring that conditions do not deteriorate too badly; the employers are concerned to maximise profits and to undertake improvements in OHS only insofar as these are profitable and in the interest of stable industrial relations; and the union movement has sought to make work safer. These perspectives are different and conflicting. The only interest group with an unambiguous commitment to improving OHS is the union movement in South Africa. However, many difficulties and problems mitigate against the movement achieving its OHS objectives, including the limited number of workers which have been organised into unions and the many pressing issues which require the movement's immediate attention.

Accident Prevention↗