PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J A Thomason

Publications and source records attributed to J A Thomason.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Quality assurance in surgery. Patient perceptions of quality.

Quality assessment and assurance should be concerned not only with technical aspects of health care but also the patient's views. This paper examines patient perceptions of the quality of care through structured interviews and focus group discussions in Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea. The results indicated a need for more concern for patient well-being, greater attention to provision of information and improvements in living conditions in the hospital. The findings of this study will be used as a means to improve the patient's experience of surgical care. Similar studies could be performed as a measure of quality in other hospitals in the developing world.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Quality of health services in Papua New Guinea: what do we know?

The discussion of quality issues in Papua New Guinea requires that attention be focused on what is known about the actual quality of the health care provided in Papua New Guinea. Since 1987 there has been increasing evidence that there are serious deficits in the quality of care in rural areas and that there are similar problems in the country's hospitals. This paper summarizes what is known and discusses the implications for the development of quality assurance activities in Papua New Guinea. The paper concludes that many of the deficiencies observed are amenable to improvement through simple and inexpensive means and that with sustained commitment, improvements are achievable.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1992

Factors affecting the use of immunization among urban settlement dwellers in Papua New Guinea.

This paper examines the importance of selected social factors in the acceptance of childhood immunization in urban settlements in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The study found that the provision of information to mothers on when to start immunization and how often the child should be immunized were key factors in determining immunization status. Maternal education was found to be positively associated with knowledge of immunization, but was not significantly associated with actual immunization practice. Over 70% of the women studied found out when to attend for immunization from the local maternal and child health (MCH) staff, hence emphasizing their importance in disseminating information. If coverage is to be increased further in urban settlements with mobile populations, maximal use must be made of local community organizations to disseminate the key immunization information and for follow-up of newborns and infants new to the community. Efforts to encourage mothers to deliver under supervision should also continue as this is an important point of first contact for immunization.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Health systems research--a key to progress.

Papua New Guinea has made significant strides towards establishing a capacity in health systems research. This can be expected to strengthen the country's overall health development programme.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1991

Distribution and performance of rural health workers in Papua New Guinea.

As part of a study of the costs of rural health services in Papua New Guinea, an examination was made of the distribution and performance of rural health staff. The cost study and the use of a staffing model which related the staffing of health facilities to their workload both yielded valuable new data about the cost, distribution and productivity of rural health staff. Key findings of the workforce study included an inequitable distribution of staff among facilities, concentration on curative activities, better performance of staff of church run facilities and consequential variations between different categories of health worker in the allocation of work time to priority programmes. These findings are already being used to guide Papua New Guinea's health policy. They have also opened up several new important questions, such as the impact of different categories and mixes of staff on quality of health centre performance.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1991

Cost analysis in health planning and management in Papua New Guinea.

In 1988 a study of the costs of rural health services was carried out in Papua New Guinea. The study collected data from a 16% sample of all health centers and subcenters and was able to determine average staffing patterns, total and average costs, and service levels for different types of facilities. The study methodology and findings have been found to have broad application for both planning and management of health services. The applications of cost analysis for planning and management of health services are discussed, and key recommendations are outlined for improving the efficiency and productivity of rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1991

A survey of Papua New Guinea's health sector financing and expenditure.

As a result of increasing economic constraints in the health sector of Papua New Guinea, the Department of Health embarked upon a major financial policy review program in 1986, which incorporated several studies in key areas. This paper presents the results of one component of the review, a health sector financing and expenditure study, which was undertaken for the 1986 financial year. The study found that: 1) 88% of health sector expenditure was provided by the public sector; 2) over 95% of expenditure was used for recurrent costs and there was poor utilization of overseas aid for capital projects; 3) the balance of expenditure between primary and secondary health was appropriate; 4) there were regional inequities in expenditure; and 5) a disproportionate amount of recurrent expenditure was consumed by personnel costs. The need to increase nongovernment expenditure on health was identified and further investigation of alternative sources of financing the health sector is required.

Budgets↗
PubMed1991

Health systems research and acute respiratory infections: essential focus on the health system.

Health systems research is receiving increasing prominence in the developing world as an aid to decision-making. In acute respiratory infection (ARI), health systems research has focused on alternative means of educating mothers to recognize pneumonia and seek treatment and on improving the case management practices of health workers. While these interventions have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing ARI mortality in the research setting, on a wider scale the management and control of ARI will depend on a well-functioning health system, with skilled workers, essential drugs and equipment, an operating referral system, adequate supervision and an active monitoring system. The essential focus for health systems research in the reduction of the impact of ARI on public health in Papua New Guinea should be on improving the effectiveness of the health care delivery system. Some potential areas for health systems research are outlined.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Better management for better health services.

Poor management has been a significant limiting factor in the development of Papua New Guinea's health services, particularly since their decentralization increased the responsibilities of provincial staff. A programme designed to strengthen management at this level has been proceeding since 1986.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1990

Establishment of an inservice training program for rural health workers in a decentralized system.

The maintenance of the effective functioning of peripheral health workers in isolated working environments has long been a subject of contemplation by health planners and managers. It depends on training, motivation and skill. This paper describes the development of an inservice training program for rural health workers based on the establishment of a core group of trainers in each province. Training of trainers utilized a combination of formal training, workshops, distance-learning techniques and regular on-site consultation.

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed1984

Obesity as a variable affecting performance on the rod and frame test.

Apparent similarities between S. Schachter's stimulus binding construct and H. A. Witkin's construct of psychological differentiation, specifically field dependence, have been noted in the literature. The present study examined field dependence on the rod-and-frame test among 20 obese and 42 average-weight subjects. Obese subjects were more field-dependent than were average-weight subjects. Women were slightly more field-dependent than were men. The author concluded that obese persons are more field-dependent and speculated that the constructs may be describing similar phenomena.

Adolescent↗