Culture is linked to the way emotions, mental distress, social problems, and physical illness are perceived, experienced, and expressed. Beliefs about what constitutes illness and what can be done about it vary considerably across cultures. Defining mental health and measuring mental health...

We describe a health plan-based herbal resource program designed within the framework of a systems approach to population health improvement. The setting is a not-for-profit, consumer-governed health plan in the Midwestern US. Telephone-based, centralized services facilitate a process of access,...

Correction of lack of insight in psychiatric patients has the potential to improve both the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of therapy. Specific aspects of insight include `awareness' by an individual of specific symptoms and behaviours, plus the awareness that such symptoms can be...

Although process measures of care have traditionally been used to assess the quality of healthcare, there is little evidence, for the majority of healthcare activities, to support a clear relationship between processes of care and resulting health gains. Outcomes monitoring is increasingly being...

Alcohol dependence is a major health problem associated with substantial social and healthcare costs. Until recently, the only available management options for maintaining abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients after detoxification were psychosocial/behavioural therapies (including self-help...

Despite an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and effective therapies, the prevalence, morbidity and mortality of asthma have risen dramatically over the last 2 decades. Asthma disease state management (ADSM) programmes provide managed care with a viable alternative to...

The National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is a public service program that addresses the gaps in chronic kidney disease (CKD) awareness and care. This free, voluntary, community-based program is designed to screen people at risk of CKD and promote CKD...

The rapid expansion of disease management continues. A multitude of stakeholders and marketplaces are now involved in providing cost-effective quality healthcare for individuals and populations. To help you keep up to date with the very latest developments in disease management, this section of...