1,722,631 research outputs found
Revisiting the Corporate and Commercial Determinants of Health.
No full textWe trace the development of the concept of the corporate determinants of health. We argue that these determinants are predicated on the unchecked power of corporations and that the means by which corporations exert power is increasingly unseen. We identify four of the ways corporations influence health: defining the dominant narrative; setting the rules by which society, especially trade, operates; commodifying knowledge; and undermining political, social, and economic rights. We identify how public health professionals can respond to these manifestations of power
Realising an election manifesto for public health in the UK.
No full textPeople living in the UK are now bracing themselves for 12 weeks of intensive campaigning ahead of the 2015 general election on May 7. In previous elections, political parties concentrated on so-called swing seats since the first-past-the-post system, coupled with the dominance of two large parties, meant that outcomes in many parts of the country could be predicted with a high degree of certainty. Which party actually achieved power came down to a few undecided voters in a small number of constituencies
How the Internet Risks Widening Health Inequalities.
No full textIn a world where knowledge is power, the internet has been hailed as a means of redressing longstanding inequalities in health. Anyone with access to a smartphone can connect with others almost anywhere in the world and to access a wealth of knowledge. Those who are disadvantaged can organize and challenge the status quo, whether to challenge the actions of a multinational corporation polluting their environment, to hold politicians to account for policies impacting on health or, for those with rare or neglected diseases, to create online support groups..
Scientific divisions on Covid-19: not what they might seem
Full text linkA new theme has emerged in the media discourse on covid-19 in the UK. We are told that the scientific community is divided, between those who advocate stringent lockdowns even at the cost of widespread collateral damage to mental and physical health, and those who propose returning rapidly to life as normal, allowing the virus to spread through the population
Introduction
No full textThis introductory chapter begins with a historical perspective of the impact of global factors on health. It discusses emerging concerns about human health and the history of international action in health. The objectives of the book are then presented
The hidden power of corporations.
Full text linkMao Zedong famously said that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” As he was someone who looked to the Russian Revolution for inspiration while engaged in a war to liberate his country from Japanese occupation, his view was understandable. Yet power can be exerted in different ways and can be most effective when it is hidden, with decisions made behind closed doors, or even invisible, so that the decisions one person makes are influenced by another without them realising it. The growing literature on what are termed “the commercial determinants of health” pays particular attention to the hidden and invisible forms of power, whereby large corporations use various methods to shape thinking about what are appropriate responses to the health consequences of their products. In the accompanying article, Susan Greenhalgh describes how the Coca-Cola Company came to dominate obesity policy in China even though its influence was obscured behind the public face of intermediarie
Google Trends: Opportunities and limitations in health and health policy research.
Full text linkWeb search engines have become pervasive in recent years, obtaining information easily on a variety of topics, from customer services and goods to practical information. Beyond these search interests, however, there is growing interest in obtaining health advice or information online. As a result, health and health policy researchers are starting to take note of potential data sources for surveillance and research, such as Google Trends™, a publicly available repository of information on real-time user search patterns. While research using Google Trends™ is growing, use of the dataset still remains limited. This paper offers an overview of the use of such data in a variety of contexts, while providing information on its strengths, limitations, and recommendations for further improvement
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