Based on the results of three national health surveys and relevant statistical data, this article reviews the main problems existed in the providers and demanders of rural health service in China and tries to provide evidences for health decision-makers.
China ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; economics ; organization & administration ; Rural Health Services ; economics ; organization & administration

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the new rural cooperative medical system in Hunan from 2003 to 2009 and to provide reference for scientific decision making. METHODS: We dynamically analyzed the participation rate, fund raising and fund operation efficiency of the new rural cooperative medical system in the past 7 years. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2009, the participation rate increased from 60.7% to 91.22%, funding increased from 30 to 100 yuan/person, degree of hospitalization income from 26.75% to 41.63%, hospitalization rate from 4.57% to 8.26%, and cost of hospitalization times from 2389.46 to 2518.00 yuan. CONCLUSION Implementation of the new rural cooperative medical system is indeed a boon to farmers, and the enthusiasm of farmers' participation is significantly improved. We must strengthen the supervision of the designated medical institutions, to effectively reduce health care cost and the burden of medical expense of farmers.
China ; Cooperative Behavior ; Delivery of Health Care ; trends ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Rural Health Services ; economics ; organization & administration

OBJECTIVETo perform theory construction and empirical study of the competency model of rural general practitioners.

METHODSThrough literature study, job analysis, interviews, and expert team discussion, the questionnaire of rural general practitioners competency was constructed. A total of 1458 rural general practitioners were surveyed by the questionnaire in 6 central provinces. The common factors were constructed using the principal component method of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The influence of the competency characteristics on the working performance was analyzed using regression equation analysis.

RESULTSThe Cronbach 's alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.974. The model consisted of 9 dimensions and 59 items. The 9 competency dimensions included basic public health service ability, basic clinical skills, system analysis capability, information management capability, communication and cooperation ability, occupational moral ability, non-medical professional knowledge, personal traits and psychological adaptability. The rate of explained cumulative total variance was 76.855%. The model fitting index were Χ(2)/df 1.88, GFI=0.94, NFI=0.96, NNFI=0.98, PNFI=0.91, RMSEA=0.068, CFI=0.97, IFI=0.97, RFI=0.96, suggesting good model fitting. Regression analysis showed that the competency characteristics had a significant effect on job performance.

CONCLUSIONSThe rural general practitioners competency model provides reference for rural doctor training, rural order directional cultivation of medical students, and competency performance management of the rural general practitioners.

Clinical Competence ; General Practitioners ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Professional Competence ; Rural Health Services ; organization & administration ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to identify knowledge, perception and health behavior about metabolic syndrome for an at risk group in a rural community area. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 575 adults with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and/or abdominal obesity were recruited from 11 rural community health care centers. A questionnaire was developed for this study. Anthropometric measures were measured and blood data was reviewed from the health record. RESULTS: Knowledge about the metabolic syndrome was low as evidenced by only a 47% correct answer rate. Only 9% of the subjects ever heard about the disease, and 87% answered they do not know the disease at all. 87% of the subjects were not performing regular exercise, 31% drank alcohol more than once a month, 12.5% were current smokers, and 33.6% are did not have a regular health check-up. CONCLUSION: Development of systematic public health care programs are needed to prevent future increases in cardiovascular complications and to decrease health care costs. These might include educational programs for the primary health care provider and an at risk group, a therapeutic lifestyle modification program, and a health screening program to identify potential groups.
Aged ; Anthropometry ; Awareness ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Care Surveys ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/etiology/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; *Perception ; Risk Factors ; *Rural Health ; Rural Health Services/organization & administration

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of 'village health worker training program' which aimed to build community participatory health promotion capacity of community leaders in villages of low developed country and to develop methods for further development of the program. METHODS: The intervention group were 134 community leaders from 25 barangays (village). Control group were 149 form 4 barangays. Intervention group participated 3-day training program. Questionnaire was developed based on 'Health Promotion Capacity Checklist' which assessed capacity in 4 feathers; 'knowledge', 'skill', 'commitment', and 'resource'. Each feather was assessed in 4 point rating scale. Capacity scores between intervention group and control group were examined to identify changes between the pre- and post-intervention periods. A qualitative evaluation of the program was conducted to assess the appropriateness of the program. The program was conducted in Tuguegarao city, Philippine in January, 2009. RESULTS: The result showed significant increases in the total health promotion capacity and each feather of health promotion capacities between pre and post assessment of intervention group. But there was no significant change in that of control group. Participants marked high level of satisfaction for preparedness, selection of main subjects and education method. Qualitative evaluation revealed that training program facilitated community participatory health promotion capacity of participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the Village health worker training program is effective for building health promotion capacity of community leaders and it can be a main method for helping low developed countries with further development.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Community Networks/*organization & administration ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Personnel/*education ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Philippines ; *Program Evaluation ; Public Health/manpower ; Qualitative Research ; Questionnaires ; Rural Health Services/*manpower ; Sanitation ; Water Supply ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a four-hour life-skills-based HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum among 5th grade students in rural primary schools of Hainan province.

METHODSThe study included two stages. Stage one (September 2006-May 2007) was a pre-post-quasi experimental design; a total of 2,413 students aged 9 to 14 years from fifth grade classes of nine primary schools completed a baseline survey (1,720 students were in the intervention group, 693 in the control group), and over 98% of them took part in a short survey. The experimental curriculum was provided to the intervention group. At stage two (September 2008), a cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 6,923 students in 7th grade classes of eight middle schools in the same study sites. There were 1,437 students in the intervention group when the curriculum was conducted.

RESULTSStudents tended to score higher in areas of HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes, if they were younger than average, lived in the county seat, had access to the internet, and their parents had completed higher levels of education. Path analysis showed that, after controlling for characteristics such as family and community factors, the total effects of curriculum on knowledge in the short-term model increased remarkably compared with the baseline, and maintained major contributions to knowledge in the mid-term model. The positive effect of knowledge on attitudes was significantly improved in the short-term model as well.

CONCLUSIONA life-skills based curriculum can improve HIV/AIDS related knowledge and self-perceived level of life-skills among primary school students in rural areas in a short time, and these positive effects can still be observed at least 2 years post participation in the curriculum.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; China ; Curriculum ; Female ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; organization & administration ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Educational ; Program Evaluation ; Rural Population ; School Health Services ; organization & administration ; Schools ; Sex Education ; Social Class ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires