Multisectoral action Health Dictionary

See ASH.... action on smoking and health

A family of research methodologies which pursue action (or change) and research (or understanding) at the same time.... action research

Collective efforts by communities which are directed towards increasing community control over the determinants of health and thereby improving health.... community action for health

A recognized relationship between part or parts of different sectors of society which has been formed to take action on an issue to achieve health outcomes or intermediate health outcomes in a way which is more effective, efficient or sustainable than might be achieved by the health sector acting alone. For practical purposes, intersectoral action and multisectoral action are synonymous terms, the former perhaps emphasizing the element of coordination, the latter the contribution of a number of sectors.... intersectoral action / multisectoral action

A broad intersectoral master plan for attaining national health goals through implementation of a strategy. It indicates what has to be done, who has to do it, during what time-frame, and with what resources. It is a framework leading to more detailed programming, budgeting, implementation and evaluation. It specifies, in operational terms, the steps to be taken in accordance with the strategy, keeping in mind the various objectives and targets to be attained and the programmes for attaining them.... national plan of action

One of the simplest forms of activity of the nervous system. (For the mechanism upon which it depends, see NERVOUS SYSTEM; NEURON(E).) Re?ex acts are divided usually into three classes.

Super?cial re?exes comprise the sudden movements which result when the skin is brushed or pricked, such as the movement of the toes that results from stroking the sole of the foot.

Deep re?exes depend upon the state of mild contraction in which muscles are constantly maintained when at rest, and are obtained, as in the case of the knee-jerk (see below), by sharply tapping the tendon of the muscle in question.

Visceral re?exes are those connected with various organs, such as the narrowing of the pupil when a bright light is directed upon the EYE, and the contraction of the URINARY BLADDER when distended by urine.

Faults in these re?exes give valuable evidence as to the presence and site of neurological disorders. Thus, absence of the knee-jerk, when the patellar tendon is tapped, means some interference with the sensory nerve, nerve-cells, or motor nerve upon which the act depends – as, for example, in POLIOMYELITIS, or peripheral NEURITIS; whilst an exaggerated jerk implies that the controlling in?uence exerted by the BRAIN upon this re?ex mechanism has been cut o? – as, for example, by a tumour high up in the SPINAL CORD, or in the disease known as MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS).... reflex action

the change in voltage that occurs across the membrane of a nerve or muscle cell when a *nerve impulse is triggered. It is due to the passage of charged particles across the membrane (see depolarization) and is an observable manifestation of the passage of an impulse.... action potential

the toxic effects of a drug produced by repeated administration of small doses at intervals that are not long enough for it to be either broken down or excreted by the body.... cumulative action

(PAR) a radical approach to public health issues that actively involves communities in collaboration, reflection, data collection, and activities that empower them to improve their own health. See empowerment.... participatory action research