Bill Wiist
Oregon State University, Global Health Program, Department Member
- Northern Arizona University, Health Sciences, Faculty MemberOregon State University, International Health Program, Department Memberadd
The Introduction chapter frames the causes of war the combined influence of US imperialism, militarism and corporate power, and cites historical and contemporary examples. In: Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health... more
The Introduction chapter frames the causes of war the combined influence of US imperialism, militarism and corporate power, and cites historical and contemporary examples.
In:
Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health Professionals is an interdisciplinary study of how pervasive militarism creates a propensity for war through the influence of academia, economic policy, the defense industry, and the news media. Comprising contributions by academics and practitioners from the fields of public health, medicine, nursing, law, sociology, psychology, political science, and peace and conflict studies, as well as representatives from organizations
active in war prevention, the book emphasizes the underlying preventable causes of war, particularly militarism, and focuses on the methods health professionals can use to prevent war. Preventing War
and Promoting Peace provides hard-hitting facts about the devastating health effects of war and a broad perspective on war and health, presenting a new paradigm for the proactive engagement of health
professions in the prevention of war and the promotion of peace.
In:
Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health Professionals is an interdisciplinary study of how pervasive militarism creates a propensity for war through the influence of academia, economic policy, the defense industry, and the news media. Comprising contributions by academics and practitioners from the fields of public health, medicine, nursing, law, sociology, psychology, political science, and peace and conflict studies, as well as representatives from organizations
active in war prevention, the book emphasizes the underlying preventable causes of war, particularly militarism, and focuses on the methods health professionals can use to prevent war. Preventing War
and Promoting Peace provides hard-hitting facts about the devastating health effects of war and a broad perspective on war and health, presenting a new paradigm for the proactive engagement of health
professions in the prevention of war and the promotion of peace.
Research Interests:
Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health Professionals is an interdisciplinary study of how pervasive militarism creates a propensity for war through the influence of academia, economic policy, the defense industry, and the... more
Preventing War and Promoting Peace: A Guide for Health Professionals is
an interdisciplinary study of how pervasive militarism creates
a propensity for war through the influence of academia, economic
policy, the defense industry, and the news media. Comprising contributions
by academics and practitioners from the fields of public
health, medicine, nursing, law, sociology, psychology, political science,
and peace and conflict studies, as well as representatives from organizations
active in war prevention, the book emphasizes the underlying
preventable causes of war, particularly militarism, and focuses on the
methods health professionals can use to prevent war. Preventing War
and Promoting Peace provides hard-hitting facts about the devastating
health effects of war and a broad perspective on war and health,
presenting a new paradigm for the proactive engagement of health
professions in the prevention of war and the promotion of peace.
an interdisciplinary study of how pervasive militarism creates
a propensity for war through the influence of academia, economic
policy, the defense industry, and the news media. Comprising contributions
by academics and practitioners from the fields of public
health, medicine, nursing, law, sociology, psychology, political science,
and peace and conflict studies, as well as representatives from organizations
active in war prevention, the book emphasizes the underlying
preventable causes of war, particularly militarism, and focuses on the
methods health professionals can use to prevent war. Preventing War
and Promoting Peace provides hard-hitting facts about the devastating
health effects of war and a broad perspective on war and health,
presenting a new paradigm for the proactive engagement of health
professions in the prevention of war and the promotion of peace.
Summary The profound changes to the world economy since the late twentieth century have been characterised by a growth in the number and size of transnational corporations. In this context, there is now increasing evidence of... more
Summary
The profound changes to the world economy since the late twentieth century have been characterised by a growth in the number and size of transnational corporations. In this context, there is now increasing evidence of unprecedented reversals in health indicators among populations around the world. Research in this area has focused on documenting the global health impacts arising from the economic activity of corporations. The challenge for public health researchers is to understand the ways in which corporations are regulated by, and participate in global health governance and implications for health and well-being across the globe. This book is an introductory guide to conducting research on the role of corporations in global health governance from a range of disciplinary perspectives and gives an overview of different approaches, methodologies and data sources. Along with the related volume Case Studies in Corporations and Global Health Governance, the book is an essential guide for scholars and students alike.
Table of Contents
Preface / List of acronyms / List of illustrations / 1. Corporations and global health governance: A research agenda, Lee, Hawkins and Wiist / PART I: DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO ANALYSING CORPORATIONS / 2. Political science, Hawkins / 3. International political economy, Eckhardt / 4. Social Policy, Holden and Farnsworth / 5. Historical analysis, MacKenzie / 6. Criminology, Michalowski / 7. Anthropology, Parker and Kenworthy / 8. Public health, Wipfli and Mack / 9. Development Studies, Carnegie / 10. Media analysis and corporate communication, Kline / PART II: METHODS AND DATA SOURCES FOR ANALYSING CORPORATIONS / 11. Interviewing key informants from the corporate sector, Hawkins and Cassidy / 12. The role of ethnography in analysing corporations, Carrillo Botero / 13. Oral history, Stevenson / 14. Participation of corporations in international organizations, Derman / 15. Studying the influence of corporations on democratic processes, Wiist / 16. Analysing corporate documents, MacKenzie and Holden / 17. Social media research methods, Freeman / 18. Making use of business and financial data, Lee / 19. Using freedom of information requests, Freeman / 20. Tracking down and using grey literature, Taylor and Sullivan / 21. Legal and ethical considerations, Lee, Hawkins & Silva /22. Developing a data management plan, Carrillo Botero and Fang /About the Contributors / Index
The profound changes to the world economy since the late twentieth century have been characterised by a growth in the number and size of transnational corporations. In this context, there is now increasing evidence of unprecedented reversals in health indicators among populations around the world. Research in this area has focused on documenting the global health impacts arising from the economic activity of corporations. The challenge for public health researchers is to understand the ways in which corporations are regulated by, and participate in global health governance and implications for health and well-being across the globe. This book is an introductory guide to conducting research on the role of corporations in global health governance from a range of disciplinary perspectives and gives an overview of different approaches, methodologies and data sources. Along with the related volume Case Studies in Corporations and Global Health Governance, the book is an essential guide for scholars and students alike.
Table of Contents
Preface / List of acronyms / List of illustrations / 1. Corporations and global health governance: A research agenda, Lee, Hawkins and Wiist / PART I: DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO ANALYSING CORPORATIONS / 2. Political science, Hawkins / 3. International political economy, Eckhardt / 4. Social Policy, Holden and Farnsworth / 5. Historical analysis, MacKenzie / 6. Criminology, Michalowski / 7. Anthropology, Parker and Kenworthy / 8. Public health, Wipfli and Mack / 9. Development Studies, Carnegie / 10. Media analysis and corporate communication, Kline / PART II: METHODS AND DATA SOURCES FOR ANALYSING CORPORATIONS / 11. Interviewing key informants from the corporate sector, Hawkins and Cassidy / 12. The role of ethnography in analysing corporations, Carrillo Botero / 13. Oral history, Stevenson / 14. Participation of corporations in international organizations, Derman / 15. Studying the influence of corporations on democratic processes, Wiist / 16. Analysing corporate documents, MacKenzie and Holden / 17. Social media research methods, Freeman / 18. Making use of business and financial data, Lee / 19. Using freedom of information requests, Freeman / 20. Tracking down and using grey literature, Taylor and Sullivan / 21. Legal and ethical considerations, Lee, Hawkins & Silva /22. Developing a data management plan, Carrillo Botero and Fang /About the Contributors / Index
Research Interests:
Summary There is growing evidence of the wide-ranging impacts of corporations in selected industries on global patterns of health and disease. However, limited analysis has been undertaken of the increasing corporate involvement in... more
Summary
There is growing evidence of the wide-ranging impacts of corporations in selected industries on global patterns of health and disease. However, limited analysis has been undertaken of the increasing corporate involvement in collective action needed to effectively address these impacts.This book brings together a wide ranging collection of case studies that provide new empirical research on how corporations impact on, influence of, and could be held more accountable to, global health governance. Written by leading and emerging scholars from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, each case study seeks to expand the methods, conceptual approaches and sources of data used to address three key questions:What impacts are corporations having on global health governance?How do corporations shape and influence global health governance in ways that protect and promote their own interests?What forms of global health governance are needed to mediate these corporate impacts in ways that protect and promote population health?
Table of Contents:
Preface / List of Acronyms / List of Illustrations / 1. Introduction, Nora J. Kenworthy, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Part I: Impacts of Corporations on Global Health 2. Governing through Production: A Public-Private Partnership’s Impacts and Dissolution in Lesotho’s Garment Industry, Nora J. Kenworthy / 3. Medicalisation and Commodification of Smoking Cessation: The Role of Industry Actors in Shaping Health Policy, Ross MacKenzie and Benjamin Hawkins / 4. The Influence of Food Industry on Public Health Governance: Insights from Mexico and the United States, Courtney Scott, Angela Carriedo and Cécile Knai / 5. Examples of Failures to Regulate Mining and Smelting Emissions and their Consequent Effects on Human Health Outcomes, Mark Patrick Taylor and Steven George / Part II: Corporate Influence of Global Health Governance / 6. Informal Channels of Corporate Influence on Global Health Policymaking: A Mapping of Strategies Across Four Industries, Eliza Suzuki and Suerie Moon / 7. How Corporations Shape our Understanding of Problems with Gambling and their Solutions, Rebecca Cassidy / 8. Corporate Manipulation of Global Health Policy: A Case Study of Asbestos, John Calvert / 9. The Entrenchment of the Public-Private Partnership Paradigm in Global Health Governance, Michael Stevenson / 10. Trade and Investment Agreements: The Empowerment of Pharmaceutical and Tobacco Corporations, Ashley Schram and Ronald Labonté / 11. Health Policy, Corporate Influence and Multi-Level Governance: The Case of Alcohol Policy in the European Union, Chris Holden and Benjamin Hawkins / 12. Tobacco Industry Strategies to Influence Global Tobacco Governance in Three Asian Countries, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Part III: Holding Corporations to Account / 13. A Proposed Approach to Systematically Identify and Monitor the Corporate Political Activity of the Food Industry with Respect to Public Health Using Publicly Available Information, Melissa Mialon, Boyd Swinburn and Gary Sacks / 14. Regulating Baby Food Marketing: Civil Society Vs Private Sector Influence, Tracey Wagner-Rizvi / 15. Communities, Controversy and Chevron: Epidemiology in the Struggle over Contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon, Ben Brisbois / 16. Citizens United, Public Health and Democracy: The Supreme Court Ruling, its Implications and Proposed Action, William H. Wiist / 17. Conclusion, Nora J. Kenworthy, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Index / Notes on Contributors
There is growing evidence of the wide-ranging impacts of corporations in selected industries on global patterns of health and disease. However, limited analysis has been undertaken of the increasing corporate involvement in collective action needed to effectively address these impacts.This book brings together a wide ranging collection of case studies that provide new empirical research on how corporations impact on, influence of, and could be held more accountable to, global health governance. Written by leading and emerging scholars from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, each case study seeks to expand the methods, conceptual approaches and sources of data used to address three key questions:What impacts are corporations having on global health governance?How do corporations shape and influence global health governance in ways that protect and promote their own interests?What forms of global health governance are needed to mediate these corporate impacts in ways that protect and promote population health?
Table of Contents:
Preface / List of Acronyms / List of Illustrations / 1. Introduction, Nora J. Kenworthy, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Part I: Impacts of Corporations on Global Health 2. Governing through Production: A Public-Private Partnership’s Impacts and Dissolution in Lesotho’s Garment Industry, Nora J. Kenworthy / 3. Medicalisation and Commodification of Smoking Cessation: The Role of Industry Actors in Shaping Health Policy, Ross MacKenzie and Benjamin Hawkins / 4. The Influence of Food Industry on Public Health Governance: Insights from Mexico and the United States, Courtney Scott, Angela Carriedo and Cécile Knai / 5. Examples of Failures to Regulate Mining and Smelting Emissions and their Consequent Effects on Human Health Outcomes, Mark Patrick Taylor and Steven George / Part II: Corporate Influence of Global Health Governance / 6. Informal Channels of Corporate Influence on Global Health Policymaking: A Mapping of Strategies Across Four Industries, Eliza Suzuki and Suerie Moon / 7. How Corporations Shape our Understanding of Problems with Gambling and their Solutions, Rebecca Cassidy / 8. Corporate Manipulation of Global Health Policy: A Case Study of Asbestos, John Calvert / 9. The Entrenchment of the Public-Private Partnership Paradigm in Global Health Governance, Michael Stevenson / 10. Trade and Investment Agreements: The Empowerment of Pharmaceutical and Tobacco Corporations, Ashley Schram and Ronald Labonté / 11. Health Policy, Corporate Influence and Multi-Level Governance: The Case of Alcohol Policy in the European Union, Chris Holden and Benjamin Hawkins / 12. Tobacco Industry Strategies to Influence Global Tobacco Governance in Three Asian Countries, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Part III: Holding Corporations to Account / 13. A Proposed Approach to Systematically Identify and Monitor the Corporate Political Activity of the Food Industry with Respect to Public Health Using Publicly Available Information, Melissa Mialon, Boyd Swinburn and Gary Sacks / 14. Regulating Baby Food Marketing: Civil Society Vs Private Sector Influence, Tracey Wagner-Rizvi / 15. Communities, Controversy and Chevron: Epidemiology in the Struggle over Contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon, Ben Brisbois / 16. Citizens United, Public Health and Democracy: The Supreme Court Ruling, its Implications and Proposed Action, William H. Wiist / 17. Conclusion, Nora J. Kenworthy, Ross MacKenzie and Kelley Lee / Index / Notes on Contributors
Research Interests:
My chapter is a counter position to that taken in the chapter in the book written by employees of PepsiCo.
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"When corporations claim the same citizenship rights as human citizens, they exercise an undue influence on health policy and democratic processes. Surprisingly, the same basic repertoire of tactics has been found to be employed by... more
"When corporations claim the same citizenship rights as human citizens, they exercise an undue influence on health policy and democratic processes. Surprisingly, the same basic repertoire of tactics has been found to be employed by corporations to effect this influence, regardless of the specific industry at work. In this book, authors from around the world reveal the range of tactics used across the corporate world that ultimately favor the bottom line over the greater good.
The Bottom Line or Public Health deconstructs some of the most ubiquitous tactics at play, including public relations, political influence, legal maneuvering, and financial power, using the pharmaceutical, food and agriculture, tobacco, alcohol, and motor vehicle industries as illustration. However, there is a growing global movement to counter this corporate force. The book discusses the role of non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples' groups, health advocates, and social justice activists, and the ways in which they are working to reduce corporate power and put control of policy back in the hands of individuals. The Bottom Line or Public Health is for scholars interested in studying the corporate entity, and for individuals and organizations who want to reclaim democracy for human citizens so that health is placed above the bottom line. "
The Bottom Line or Public Health deconstructs some of the most ubiquitous tactics at play, including public relations, political influence, legal maneuvering, and financial power, using the pharmaceutical, food and agriculture, tobacco, alcohol, and motor vehicle industries as illustration. However, there is a growing global movement to counter this corporate force. The book discusses the role of non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples' groups, health advocates, and social justice activists, and the ways in which they are working to reduce corporate power and put control of policy back in the hands of individuals. The Bottom Line or Public Health is for scholars interested in studying the corporate entity, and for individuals and organizations who want to reclaim democracy for human citizens so that health is placed above the bottom line. "
Research Interests:
Letter to the Editor Wiist, William H. June 2017. American Journal of Public Health, 107 (6): e-5. In an article earlier this year authors argue that public health’s critical analysis of food and beverage corporations is “backward... more
Letter to the Editor Wiist, William H. June 2017. American Journal of Public Health, 107 (6): e-5. In an article earlier this year authors argue that public health’s critical analysis of food and beverage corporations is “backward looking.” My letter to the editor presented evidence that the suggestions made in the article for corporate “social responsibility” have already been shown to not be viable, and pointed out that the author’s attribution of human characteristics to corporations is misleading.
Research Interests:
The theoretical framework that public health uses as a basis for research and practice determines the scope, content and relevance of both (McMichael 1999). The use of conceptual frameworks or models can help identify the flow of causal... more
The theoretical framework that public health uses as a basis for research and practice determines the scope, content and relevance of both (McMichael 1999). The use of conceptual frameworks or models can help identify the flow of causal factors, their mechanisms and their inter-relationships. Frameworks help researchers identify relationships, form hypotheses for testing, select analytic approaches (Diez-Roux 2008; Weitkunat and Wildner 2002) and identify areas for implementation in practice (Carpiano and Daley 2006a). The purpose of this article is to: (1) summarize and critique the application of the disease prevention continuum framework to war, (2) describe the use of complex systems modelling in understanding the prevention of war and (3) recommend initial steps for public health’s adoption of complex systems modelling to the prevention of war. The goal is to encourage public health professionals to increase their engagement in the prevention of war.
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Western Buddhism has been of growing interest to scholars in the U.S. but most studies have been historical narrative accounts with few quantitative studies of Buddhists' religious practices and beliefs. No epidemiological studies of... more
Western Buddhism has been of growing interest to scholars in the U.S. but most studies have been historical narrative accounts with few quantitative studies of Buddhists' religious practices and beliefs. No epidemiological studies of Buddhists' health have been published. A web survey of Buddhist religious practices and beliefs, medical history and health practices was conducted with 886 Buddhist respondents. Eighty-two percent of respondents were residents of the U.S.A. Eighty-six percent were converts to Buddhism and had been a Buddhist for a median of 9 years. Ninety-nine percent practiced Buddhist meditation and 70% had attended a formal retreat for intensive meditation practice. Sixty-eight percent of respondents rated their health as very good or excellent and 13% smoked cigarettes. Logistic regression analysis of scores on a Buddhist Devoutness Index (BDI) and health practices showed that a one point increase on the BDI was associated with a 15% increase in the odds o...
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Hastings calls for a broadening of public health’s focus beyond concerns about marketing, tobacco, and individual behavior.1 Others in public health—for example, in food and nutrition and non-communicable chronic disease have also taken... more
Hastings calls for a broadening of public health’s focus beyond concerns about marketing, tobacco, and individual behavior.1 Others in public health—for example, in food and nutrition and non-communicable chronic disease have also taken this perspective. Some have raised the problem of widespread and multifaceted corporate influence on public health and …
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This article reviews adverse influences of for-profit enterprises on health care and public health, and examines significance for public policy. Narrative review. For-profit health-care industries may increase costs and reduce quality,... more
This article reviews adverse influences of for-profit enterprises on health care and public health, and examines significance for public policy. Narrative review. For-profit health-care industries may increase costs and reduce quality, leading to market failure and contributing to the USA's unflattering position in international comparisons of health-care efficiency. Drug and device corporations use strategies such as making biased inferences, influencing scientists and physicians, marketing rather than informing the public, and lobbying to control their own industry regulations to create market advantage. Successful marketing leads to the increased use of costly profit-making drugs and procedures over cheaper, nonpatented therapies. Because resources are limited, the overuse of costly modalities contributes to expensive health care, which presents a challenge to universal coverage. The free market also fosters the proliferation of industries, such as tobacco, food, and chemical...
Research Interests: Politics, Public Health Policy, Public Health, Applied Economics, Humans, and 10 moreUnited States, Medical Care, Public health systems and services research, Marketing of Health Services, Public sector health care, Health Care Costs, Drug Industry, Public Policy, Delivery of Health Care, and Quality of health care
A web survey of Buddhists' religious practices and beliefs, and health history and practices was conducted with 886 Buddhist respondents. Eighty-two percent were residents of the USA. Ninety-nine percent practiced Buddhist... more
A web survey of Buddhists' religious practices and beliefs, and health history and practices was conducted with 886 Buddhist respondents. Eighty-two percent were residents of the USA. Ninety-nine percent practiced Buddhist meditation and 70% had attended a formal retreat for intensive meditation practice. Eighty-six percent were converts to Buddhism and had been a Buddhist for a median of 9 years. Sixty-eight percent of respondents rated their health as very good or excellent. A one-point increase on a Buddhist Devoutness Index was associated with a 15% increase in the odds of being a non-smoker and an 11% increase in the odds of being in good to excellent health.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Global Health, Politics, Social Justice, Public Health Policy, Public Health, and 14 moreResearch, Investments, Social Responsibility, Curriculum, Humans, Social Medicine, Industry, Income, Health Problems, Psychology of Power, Consumer Advocacy, Socioeconomic Factors, attitude to health, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests: International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Violence, International Law, Human Rights, and 14 moreWar Studies, Militarism, Public Health, Military and Politics, Medicine, War, Humans, Public Health Administration, United States, American Journal of Public Health, Professional Competence, Public Policy, Professional Role, and Medical and Health Sciences
The “Part of the Solution” article describes how the food industry has evolved its strategies to respond to critics and government regulation by co-option and appeasement to create a less hostile environment. Rather than focusing research... more
The “Part of the Solution” article describes how the food industry has evolved its strategies to respond to critics and government regulation by co-option and appeasement to create a less hostile environment. Rather than focusing research on single industries it would be more efficient and productive to focus on corporate political activities (CPA) that directly influence democratic institutions and processes having authority over laws, policy, rules and regulations that govern industry. The most influential and direct CPA are election campaign donations, lobbying, and the reverse revolving door. In the U.S. those CPA flow from rights of corporations that underlie all industry strategies. The U.S. history of how corporations obtained their rights is described, and research about the affirmative effects of those three CPA is summarized. Health research is needed about those CPA and their effects on health law, policy and regulation in the U.S. and other nations.
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A Web-based survey was conducted to study the religious and health practices, medical history and psychological characteristics among Buddhist practitioners. This report describes the development, advertisement, administration and... more
A Web-based survey was conducted to study the religious and health practices, medical history and psychological characteristics among Buddhist practitioners. This report describes the development, advertisement, administration and preliminary results of the survey. Over 1200 Buddhist practitioners responded. Electronic advertisements were the most effective means of recruiting participants. Survey participants were mostly well educated with high incomes and white. Participants engaged in Buddhist practices such as meditation, attending meetings and obtaining instruction from a monk or nun, and practiced healthful behaviors such as regular physical activity and not smoking. Buddhist meditative practice was related to psychological mindfulness and general health.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The amount of U.S. federal revenue affects the government’s ability to provide public health services, programs, infrastructure, and research to adequately protect the public’s health. Public health funding shortages are chronic.... more
The amount of U.S. federal revenue affects the government’s ability to provide public health services, programs, infrastructure, and research to adequately protect the public’s health. Public health funding shortages are chronic. Corporate income tax avoidance is one source of unrealized federal tax revenue that, if collected and allocated to public health, could help offset those shortages. Major corporate methods of tax avoidance, their effect on federal revenue, and recommended policy changes are described. Corporate tax avoidance and government revenue shortages are framed as social determinants of health, and research questions and data sources for public health researchers for examining the issue are suggested. Although there is no guarantee that any additional corporate
income tax revenue would be directed to public health, the subject warrants the attention of public health researchers and policy advocates. The United States serves as a case study for public professionals in other countries to conduct similar analyses.
income tax revenue would be directed to public health, the subject warrants the attention of public health researchers and policy advocates. The United States serves as a case study for public professionals in other countries to conduct similar analyses.
Research Interests:
Letter to the Editor Wiist, William H. June 2017. American Journal of Public Health, 107 (6): e-5. In an article earlier this year authors argue that public health’s critical analysis of food and beverage corporations is “backward... more
Letter to the Editor
Wiist, William H. June 2017. American Journal of Public Health, 107 (6): e-5.
In an article earlier this year authors argue that public health’s critical analysis of food and beverage corporations is “backward looking.” My letter to the editor presented evidence that the suggestions made in the article for corporate “social responsibility” have already been shown to not be viable, and pointed out that the author’s attribution of human characteristics to corporations is misleading.
Wiist, William H. June 2017. American Journal of Public Health, 107 (6): e-5.
In an article earlier this year authors argue that public health’s critical analysis of food and beverage corporations is “backward looking.” My letter to the editor presented evidence that the suggestions made in the article for corporate “social responsibility” have already been shown to not be viable, and pointed out that the author’s attribution of human characteristics to corporations is misleading.
The status of selected cardiovascular risk factors was ascertained in a consecutive sample of 661 (222 men and 439 women) African-American adults who were screened for the Northeast Oklahoma City Cholesterol Education Program, a... more
The status of selected cardiovascular risk factors was ascertained in a consecutive sample of 661 (222 men and 439 women) African-American adults who were screened for the Northeast Oklahoma City Cholesterol Education Program, a church-based cholesterol intervention program. Hypertension was present in 48.4% and 44.7% of men and women, respectively. Average systolic blood pressure levels were similar in men and women (132.0 vs 131.5 mm Hg, P = 0.40) although average diastolic blood pressure levels were higher in men (84.0 vs 81.1 mm Hg; P < .0001). A substantial proportion of the screenees were unaware of their hypertension, and blood pressure normalization (SBP < 140 and DBP < 90 mm Hg) was uncommon in drug-treated hypertensives. Average cholesterol levels were slightly higher in women compared to men (206.0 vs 199.6 mg/dL, P = 0.11). The majority of persons with elevated cholesterol levels (> or = 240 mg/dL) were unaware of their condition and were infrequently treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs. Overweight was highly prevalent, was more common with advancing age, and was related to the presence of hypertension in both men and women. In addition, a strong linear relation between overweight and blood pressure was present in both sexes. Overweight was more common in young men (< 35 years old) compared to age-matched women; however, women were increasingly more overweight than men after 35-44 years of age. In fact, by age 65, 90% of the women were overweight. These data indicate an excessive prevalence and high mean levels of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in these church-attending African-American adults. Because churches are a central institution in most African-American communities, and their congregations appear to have an excessive cardiovascular disease risk factor burden, churches may be appropriate sites for the implementation of community-based risk factor control programs.
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The leading cause of death among black people in the United States is coronary heart disease, accounting for about 25 percent of the deaths. The Task Force on Black and Minority Health formed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services... more
The leading cause of death among black people in the United States is coronary heart disease, accounting for about 25 percent of the deaths. The Task Force on Black and Minority Health formed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1985 subsequently recommended increased efforts to reduce risk factors for coronary heart disease in the black population. A stated focus of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Cholesterol Education Program has been that of reaching minority groups. This report describes a pilot cholesterol education program conducted in black churches by trained members of those churches. Cholesterol screening, using a Reflotron, and other coronary heart disease risk factor screening was conducted in six churches with predominantly black members and at a neighborhood library. A total of 348 persons with cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg per dl) or higher were identified. At the time of screening, all were provided brief counseling on lowering their cholesterol and were given a copy of the screening results. Half of those identified, all members of one church, were invited to attend a 6-week nutrition education class of 1 hour each week about techniques to lower blood cholesterol. Information about cholesterol was also mailed to them. They were designated as the education group. Persons in the church were trained to teach the classes. A report of the screening results was sent to the personal physicians of the remaining 174 people in other churches who had cholesterol levels of 200 mg per dl or higher. This group served as a usual care comparison group.Six months after the initial screening, members of both groups were invited for followup screening.Among the 75 percent of the education group who returned for followup screening there was a 23.4 mg per dl (10 percent) decrease in the mean cholesterol level. Thirty-six percent of the usual care group returned for followup screening; their mean cholesterol level had decreased 38.7 mg per dl (16 percent).In this study, the support of churches provided access to large numbers of people. The mean serum cholesterol reductions occurring with both screening and referral and screening and education were statistically significant and large enough to be of clinical importance.The authors recommend that the approach taken in this study be investigated further by the National Cholesterol Education Program as a model for reaching the black population with coronary heart disease risk reduction programs.
Research Interests: Nursing, Health Education, Humans, Cholesterol, Female, and 13 moreMale, Regression Analysis, Risk factors, African Americans, Middle Aged, Public Administration and Policy, Adult, Coronary heart disease, Public health systems and services research, Analysis of Variance, Southwestern United States, Risk Factors, and Socioeconomic Factors
Hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular renal sequelae remain major clinical and public health problems in the United States, particularly among African Americans. Compared with whites, African Americans have higher incidence... more
Hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular renal sequelae remain major clinical and public health problems in the United States, particularly among African Americans. Compared with whites, African Americans have higher incidence and prevalence rates for hypertension; these differentials are more pronounced in young adult women. Among the very old, race differentials in hypertension prevalence rates are less pronounced. The reasons for the epidemic hypertension rates in the United States are largely environmental: obesity, physical inactivity, high salt and alcohol intake, and psychosocial stress have all been identified as causes. Obesity and physical inactivity probably account for a significant proportion of the premature excess hypertension in African Americans relative to white women. Putative genetic differences between African Americans and whites are unlikely to account for the differential in hypertension rates. During the last 20 years tremendous strides have been made in the identification, treatment, and control of hypertension in the African-American community. Yet, there is further progress to be made. Preventing hypertension precursor conditions (ie, obesity, excess salt intake, psychosocial stressors), normalizing blood pressure levels (less than 140/90 mm Hg), reducing the prevalence of severe hypertension (greater than 160/90 mm Hg), and linking psychosocial correlates of blood pressure to cardiovascular-renal physiology (ie, salt sensitivity) remain as major challenges for those involved in hypertension management and research in African-American communities.
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ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
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The personality predisposition "John Henryism" (JH) is a self-perception that one can meet demands of the environment through hard work and determination. The JH scale measures "efficacy of mental and physical... more
The personality predisposition "John Henryism" (JH) is a self-perception that one can meet demands of the environment through hard work and determination. The JH scale measures "efficacy of mental and physical vigor, commitment to hard work, and determination to reach one's goals." Previous research found an increased prevalence of hypertension among African-Americans with high JH scores and low socioeconomic status (SES). Six hundred fifty-three adult African-Americans in a church-based cardiovascular risk factor screening program completed the JH questionnaire. The prevalence of cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl was highest (27%) among the high-JH/low-SES group when adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. High JH/low SES was not associated with a greater prevalence of high blood pressure. Findings of this study suggest the need for additional research on John Henryism, socioeconomic factors, and cardiovascular risk among randomly selected samples of geographically and economically diverse African-Americans.
Research Interests: Behavioral Medicine, Cardiovascular Risk, Motivation, Humans, African American, and 17 moreHigh Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Female, Male, Body Mass Index, Risk factors, Socioeconomic Status, African Americans, Aged, Middle Aged, Arousal, Adult, Coronary heart disease, Cardiovascular Risk Factor, Risk Factors, and Type a Personality
Love and compassion are most important, most precious, most powerful, and most sacred. Practicing them is useful not only in terms of true religion but also in worldly life for both mental and physical health. They are the basic elements... more
Love and compassion are most important, most precious, most powerful, and most sacred. Practicing them is useful not only in terms of true religion but also in worldly life for both mental and physical health. They are the basic elements supporting our life and ...
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The purpose of this article is to: (1) summarize and critique the application of the disease prevention continuum framework to war, (2) describe the use of complex systems modelling in understanding the prevention of war and (3) recommend... more
The purpose of this article is to: (1) summarize and critique the application of the disease prevention continuum framework to war, (2) describe the use of complex systems modelling in understanding the prevention of war and (3) recommend initial steps for public health’s adoption of complex systems
modelling to the prevention of war. The goal is to encourage public health professionals to increase their engagement in the prevention of war.
modelling to the prevention of war. The goal is to encourage public health professionals to increase their engagement in the prevention of war.
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Because the corporate goal is to obtain the highest profit possible, not social welfare, public health or environmental sustainability, business interests often give little or no consideration to the effects of corporate practices on... more
Because the corporate goal is to obtain the highest profit possible, not social welfare, public health or environmental sustainability, business interests often give little or no consideration to the effects of corporate practices on indigenous peoples. Thus, the estimated 257 to 370 million indigenous peoples in about 5,000 communities in 70 countries, speaking 5,000 of the 6,000 existing languages, often experience severe detrimental consequences from commercial activity. The effects of extractive industries such as mining, agricultural crops and timber, and the theft of intellectual property rights illustrate some of those consequences.
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As in many other aspects of the global economy, corporations continue to exert inordinate influence over aspects of trade agreements that control life and death, and the rule of democracy particularly in low and middle-income countries.
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Institutions and informal networks have formed a movement that is challenging the growing power and pervasive influence of large corporations. The movement’s analyses show that the historical development and current function of the... more
Institutions and informal networks have formed a movement
that is challenging the growing power and pervasive influence of large corporations. The movement’s analyses show that the historical development and current function of the corporate
entity requires production of a profit regardless of consequences to health, society, or the environment. As a result, public health professionals frequently address health problems related to
products, services, or practices of corporations. There are possibilities for links between public health and the anticorporate movement. Public health research and the professional preparation curriculum should focus on the corporate entity as a
social structural determinant of disease.
that is challenging the growing power and pervasive influence of large corporations. The movement’s analyses show that the historical development and current function of the corporate
entity requires production of a profit regardless of consequences to health, society, or the environment. As a result, public health professionals frequently address health problems related to
products, services, or practices of corporations. There are possibilities for links between public health and the anticorporate movement. Public health research and the professional preparation curriculum should focus on the corporate entity as a
social structural determinant of disease.
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Reply to Counter-point
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Objectives: This article reviews adverse influences of for-profit enterprises on health care and public health, and examines significance for public policy. Research Design: Narrative review. Results: For-profit health-care... more
Objectives: This article reviews adverse influences of for-profit
enterprises on health care and public health, and examines significance for public policy.
Research Design: Narrative review.
Results: For-profit health-care industries may increase costs and
reduce quality, leading to market failure and contributing to the
USA’s unflattering position in international comparisons of healthcare efficiency. Drug and device corporations use strategies such as making biased inferences, influencing scientists and physicians, marketing rather than informing the public, and lobbying to control their own industry regulations to create market advantage. Successful marketing leads to the increased use of costly profit-making drugs and procedures over cheaper, nonpatented therapies. Because resources are limited, the overuse of costly modalities contributes to expensive health care, which presents a challenge to universal coverage. The free market also fosters the proliferation of industries, such as tobacco, food, and chemicals, which externalize costs to
maximize profits, seek to unduly influence research by paying
experts and universities, and attempt to control the media and
regulatory agencies. Most vulnerable to the cumulative harm of
these tactics are children, the poor, the sick, and the least educated.
Conclusions: The free market can harm health and health care. The corporate obligation to increase profits and ensure a return to
shareholders affects public health. Such excesses of capitalism pose formidable challenges to social justice and public health. The recognition of the health risks entailed by corporation-controlled markets has important implications for public policy. Reforms are required to limit the power of corporations.
enterprises on health care and public health, and examines significance for public policy.
Research Design: Narrative review.
Results: For-profit health-care industries may increase costs and
reduce quality, leading to market failure and contributing to the
USA’s unflattering position in international comparisons of healthcare efficiency. Drug and device corporations use strategies such as making biased inferences, influencing scientists and physicians, marketing rather than informing the public, and lobbying to control their own industry regulations to create market advantage. Successful marketing leads to the increased use of costly profit-making drugs and procedures over cheaper, nonpatented therapies. Because resources are limited, the overuse of costly modalities contributes to expensive health care, which presents a challenge to universal coverage. The free market also fosters the proliferation of industries, such as tobacco, food, and chemicals, which externalize costs to
maximize profits, seek to unduly influence research by paying
experts and universities, and attempt to control the media and
regulatory agencies. Most vulnerable to the cumulative harm of
these tactics are children, the poor, the sick, and the least educated.
Conclusions: The free market can harm health and health care. The corporate obligation to increase profits and ensure a return to
shareholders affects public health. Such excesses of capitalism pose formidable challenges to social justice and public health. The recognition of the health risks entailed by corporation-controlled markets has important implications for public policy. Reforms are required to limit the power of corporations.
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The 2010 US Supreme Court Citizens United v Federal Election Commission 130 US 876 (2010) case concerned the plans of a nonprofit organization to distribute a film about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Court ruled that... more
The 2010 US Supreme Court Citizens United v Federal Election
Commission 130 US 876 (2010) case concerned the plans
of a nonprofit organization to distribute a film about presidential
candidate Hillary Clinton. The Court ruled that prohibiting
corporate independent expenditures for advocacy advertising
during election campaigns unconstitutionally inhibits free
speech. Corporations can now make unlimited contributions to
election advocacy advertising directly from the corporate
treasury. Candidates who favor public health positions may be
subjected to corporate opposition advertising. Citizen groups and legislators have proposed remedies to ameliorate the effects of
the Court’s ruling. The public health field needs to apply
its expertise, in collaboration with others, to work to reduce
the disproportionate influence of corporate political speech
on health policy and democracy.
Commission 130 US 876 (2010) case concerned the plans
of a nonprofit organization to distribute a film about presidential
candidate Hillary Clinton. The Court ruled that prohibiting
corporate independent expenditures for advocacy advertising
during election campaigns unconstitutionally inhibits free
speech. Corporations can now make unlimited contributions to
election advocacy advertising directly from the corporate
treasury. Candidates who favor public health positions may be
subjected to corporate opposition advertising. Citizen groups and legislators have proposed remedies to ameliorate the effects of
the Court’s ruling. The public health field needs to apply
its expertise, in collaboration with others, to work to reduce
the disproportionate influence of corporate political speech
on health policy and democracy.
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We examined the relationship between meditation experience, psychological mindfulness, quiet ego characteristics, and self-reported physical health in a diverse sample of adults with a range of Buddhist experience (N = 117) gathered from... more
We examined the relationship between meditation experience, psychological mindfulness, quiet ego characteristics, and self-reported physical health in a diverse sample of adults with a range of Buddhist experience (N = 117) gathered from a web-based survey administered to Buddhist practitioners around the world between August 1, 2007 and January 31, 2008. Practicing meditation on a regular basis and greater experience with
Buddhism was related to higher psychological mindfulness scores. Psychological mindfulness was correlated with a latent variable called ‘‘quiet ego characteristics’’ that reflected measures based on Bauer and Wayment’s (Transcending self-interest: psychological explorations of the quiet ego. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, pp 7–19, 2008) conceptual and multidimensional definition of a ‘‘quiet ego’’: wisdom, altruism, sense of interdependence with all living things, need for structure (reversed), anger/verbal aggression (reversed), and negative affectivity (reversed). In turn, quiet ego
characteristics were positively related to self-reported health. Our findings provide continuing support for the key role psychological mindfulness may play in psychological and physical well-being.
Buddhism was related to higher psychological mindfulness scores. Psychological mindfulness was correlated with a latent variable called ‘‘quiet ego characteristics’’ that reflected measures based on Bauer and Wayment’s (Transcending self-interest: psychological explorations of the quiet ego. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, pp 7–19, 2008) conceptual and multidimensional definition of a ‘‘quiet ego’’: wisdom, altruism, sense of interdependence with all living things, need for structure (reversed), anger/verbal aggression (reversed), and negative affectivity (reversed). In turn, quiet ego
characteristics were positively related to self-reported health. Our findings provide continuing support for the key role psychological mindfulness may play in psychological and physical well-being.
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The following is a 10-15 minute invited presentation of a condensed, updated framework based on my proposed systems model of how corporations exert influence on public health which I presented several years prior as a peer-reviewed... more
The following is a 10-15 minute invited presentation of a condensed, updated framework based on my proposed systems model of how corporations exert influence on public health which I presented several years prior as a peer-reviewed presentation on a panel at a national public health convention. At the time the model appeared to be the only such comprehensive model proposed by anyone in public health. Although not proposing a conspiracy, the interactions and coordinated planning in many institutions suggest a commonality of corporate tactics globally. In certain aspects the framework describes conditions in the U.S. but applicable to other nations. Although some situations and data in the presentation have since changed, the framework is overall, still an accurate description. In the years since this presentation, frameworks about corporate methods of influence have become more common, as the concepts I presented and in my additional presentations and publications (see next slide) became more widely adopted in public health. Other public health professionals have since proposed similar frameworks largely based on research about corporate practices in specific industries (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, food and beverage, firearms). Currently the term "commercial determinants of health" has been popularly adopted to describe the ways corporations influence health. For a variety of reason I did not (but still may) submit the model for peer-review publication. I offer this educational presentation here with the hope that it will stimulate further thinking, research and advocacy. If you find the model, concepts and ideas useful, please cite this presentation as shown on the title slide (#4).
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The following is a 15-20 min. peer-reviewed presentation I gave on a panel at a national public health convention in which I proposed a systems model of the ways that corporations globally exert influence on public health. Although not... more
The following is a 15-20 min. peer-reviewed presentation I gave on a panel at a national public health convention in which I proposed a systems model of the ways that corporations globally exert influence on public health. Although not proposing a conspiracy, the interactions and coordinated planning in many institutions suggest a commonality of corporate tactics globally. In certain aspects the model describes conditions in the U.S. but applicable to other nations. Although some situations and data described in the presentation have since changed, the model is overall, still an accurate description. I later expanded the model and emphasized specific aspects of corporate influence on democracy as the underlying foundation of all corporate practices, operations and policy. At the time of the presentation the model appeared to be the only such comprehensive model proposed by anyone in public health. In the years since, frameworks about corporate methods of influence have become more common, as the concepts presented here and in the author's additional presentations and publications (see next slide) became more widely adopted in public health. Other public health professionals have since proposed similar frameworks largely based on research about corporate practices in specific industries (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, food and beverage, firearms). Currently the term "commercial determinants of health" has been popularly adopted to describe the ways corporations influence health. For a variety of reason I did not (but still may) submit the model for peer-review publication. I offer it here with the hope that it will stimulate further thinking, research and advocacy. If you find the model, concepts and ideas useful, please cite this presentation as shown on the title slide (#5).