Oscar Labra

Social representations of HIV/AIDS in mass media: Some important lessons for caregivers

This article provides an overview of published studies on social representations of HIV/AIDS. It argues that, despite changes over time in the peripheral elements of negative social representations, such representations remain present within the health care field and continue to affect populations across various cultures. This underlines the importance of health care that accounts for cultural needs in interventions with people living with HIV/AIDS. A review of the relevant literature suggests that it is necessary to assist caregivers (including social workers) in understanding both the social significance associated with the illness and the concept of cultural competence.

Review of chronic non-cancer pain research among Aboriginal people in Canada

Purpose: Aboriginal people in Canada are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses, compared to non‐Aboriginal Canadians. The purpose of this review was to determine whether differences exist between the two groups with respect to chronic non‐cancer pain (CNCP) in order to better inform clinical practice and to identify research gaps. Data sources: Four electronic databases were searched for the period of 1990‐2015. Study selection: Only English and French language original studies that examined CNCP prevalence, assessment tools and beliefs among Aboriginal people in Canada were considered. Data extraction: Data extracted included Aboriginal group, geographic location, study setting and pain definition (for prevalence studies only). Results of data synthesis: A total of 11 studies matched the selection criteria: 10 reported estimates of chronic pain prevalence among Aboriginal people in Canada, 1 was about a culturally adapted pain assessment tool, and no study was found about CNCP beliefs within Aboriginal people. Conclusion: CNCP among Aboriginal people is still a largely unexplored research field. The limited evidence available so far does not allow us to conclude that CNCP affects a higher proportion of Aboriginal than non‐Aboriginal people in Canada. However, arthritis, a specific condition associated with chronic pain, is more prevalent in Aboriginal than non‐Aboriginal people. Additional research is needed on other CNCP types and conditions. Furthermore, pain assessment tools are not culturally adapted and clinicians should inquire more about the beliefs of Aboriginal patients to make them feel safer and to better target interventions.

Chilean Men Exposed to the Major Earthquake in 2010: Investigation of the Impacts on Their Health

The article presents the results of a study involving 18 men, 4 years after one of South America’s most powerful natural disasters: An earthquake occurring off the coast of Chile in February 2010. Participants reported having developed new psychological health problems in the months following the catastrophe. The manifestations most frequently reported by participants were the presence of depressive and stress symptoms, as well as sleep disorders. The majority of participants registered scores of 33 and above on the Impact of Event Scale–Revised, indicating that they were suffering from posttraumatic stress. Furthermore, although the majority of interviewed men reported having suffered psychological or physical health problems following the disaster, only a small minority had sought help from professional health services. The article develops insights into the men’s social interactions and underlines the importance of supporting further research on red health topics, in particular the help-seeking behavior of men following exposure to natural disasters.

Medium-Term Health of Seniors Following Exposure to a Natural Disaster

The article aims to describe the medium-term impacts of a major earthquake event (Chile, February 27, 2010) on 26 seniors. The authors adopted a qualitative study approach. Data obtained using the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) show the presence of manifestations of posttraumatic stress in the majority of respondents. In addition, data collected in interviews demonstrated a progressive deterioration of the health of respondents over a period of 4 years following the disaster. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the effects of material loss, emotional stress, and postdisaster health complications. These impacts are exacerbated by low economic status. Furthermore, broader research is necessary involving elderly living in poverty who have survived natural disasters and others without such experiences, in order to better identify and differentiate between health complications associated with exposure to disaster events and those linked more strictly with natural aging processes.