Spread of homeopathy in the early nineteenth century: the comparative approach and the cases of Sweden and Brazil / A difusão da homeopatia no início do século XIX: abordagem comparativa e os casos da Suécia e do Brasil

Abstract The comparative approach has been advocated to overcome some flaws inherent to case studies. Here, the spread of homeopathy in the early nineteenth century is addressed through a comparison of the cases of Sweden and Brazil, where homeopathy met diametrically opposed fates. The parameters used for the comparison are the standard for studies on the early spread of homeopathy, such as the concept of the "introducer," and reception by the medical and academic community, the government, and society at large. The results suggest that analysis of contexts, determinants, and the interactions of practitioners and institutions representing different health care approaches, whether dominant or alternative, seems to provide a more accurate picture of different moments in the global history of medicine.

Resumo A abordagem comparativa foi adotada com o intuito de suplantar algumas falhas inerentes aos estudos de caso. Nela, a difusão da homeopatia no início do século XIX é tratada por meio de uma comparação entre casos da Suécia e do Brasil, onde a homeopatia encontrou destinos diametralmente opostos. Os parâmetros usados para a comparação são padrão para estudos sobre o início da expansão da homeopatia, como o conceito de "introdutor", e a aceitação por parte de governo, comunidades médica e acadêmica, e sociedade como um todo. Os resultados sugerem que a análise de contextos, de determinantes, e das interações de médicos e instituições representando diferentes perspectivas de tratamento médico, fossem elas dominantes ou alternativas, parecem oferecer uma análise mais precisa de diferentes momentos da história global da medicina.

Evaluación de la gestión del talento humano en entorno hospitalario cubano / Evaluation of the human talent management in the Cuban hospital setting

Introducción: La gestión del talento, actividad particular dentro de los procesos de gestión integral del capital humano, es poco estudiado en los servicios de salud cubanos. Objetivo: Evaluar la gestión del talento humano en un área hospitalaria. Métodos: Investigación evaluativa realizada en enero de 2015 en el Centro Especializado Ambulatorio de Cienfuegos. La muestra, intencional por criterios, quedó integrada por 32 trabajadores. Se aplicó un cuestionario ad hoc validado por expertos donde se exploraron 68 ítems vinculados a: evaluación del desempeño, motivadores para el anclaje laboral, predictores de práctica exitosa, cultura organizacional y estilo de liderazgo. Se emitieron juicios de valor según las respuestas a partir de una escala prefijada. Resultados: Predominaron juicios de valor positivos alrededor de la gestión del talento. Existían reservas de mejora para la evaluación de la gestión del conocimiento en los trabajadores y las necesidades de autorrealización. Desestimularon el anclaje, la poca autonomía para la toma de decisiones y el tiempo libre disponible. Los predictores de éxito con poco desarrollo fueron las publicaciones y la percepción de reconocimiento por pares. El 78,1 por ciento cuestionó su grado de inteligencia. Los recursos fueron una limitante para el desarrollo del talento. La mayoría consideró que recibían recompensas precarias por su esfuerzo. La burocracia puede ser excesiva y los directivos desplegaban una gestión bien enfocada al desarrollo del talento. Conclusiones: La percepción sobre la gestión del talento humano en la institución es positiva aunque existen reservas de mejora identificables(AU)

Introduction: Talent management as a specific activity within the processes of the comprehensive human capital management has been barely studied in the field of the Cuban health services. Objective: To assess the human talent management in a hospital area. Method: Evaluative research conducted in January 2015 at the Specialized Outpatient Service Center of Cienfuegos province. The criteria-based intentional sample was made up of 32 workers. An expert-validated ad hoc questionnaire was used to explore 68 items related to performance evaluation, motivators for work stability, successful practice predictors, organizational culture and leadership style. Some answer-based value judgments, according to a preset scale, were made. Results: Positive value judgments on the talent management prevailed. There were reserves for improvement in the knowledge management evaluation in workers and the self-fulfillment requirements. Work stability, little autonomy for decision-making, and available spare time were not stimulating. Less developing success predictors were publications and perception of recognition by peers. In the studied group, 78.1 percent questioned their level of intelligence. Availability of resources was a restriction for talent development. Most of them considered that the compensation for their efforts was precarious, red tape may be excessive and that the directors 'management was aimed to the development of talent. Conclusions: Perception of the human talent management in the institution was positive but there are still reserves for improvement to be identified(AU)

Atribución de malos tratos en servicios de salud a discriminación y sus consecuencias en pacientes diabéticos mapuche / Healthcare mistreatment attributed to discrimination among mapuche patients and discontinuation of diabetes care

Background: The negative impact of perceived discrimination on health outcomes is well established. However, less attention has been directed towards understanding the effect of perceived discrimination on health behaviors relevant for the treatment of diabetes in ethnic minorities. Aim: To examine the effects of healthcare mistreatment attributed to discrimination on the continuity of Type 2 Diabetes (DM2) care among mapuche patients in a southern region of Chile. Material and Methods: A non-probabilistic sample of 85 mapuche DM2 patients were recruited from public and private health systems. Eligibility criteria included having experienced at least one incident of interpersonal healthcare mistreatment. All participants answered an instrument designed to measure healthcare mistreatment and continuity of diabetes care. Results: Healthcare mistreatment attributed to ethnic discrimination was associated with the discontinuation of diabetes care. Conclusions: Healthcare mistreatment attributed to discrimination negatively impacted the continuity of diabetes care, a fact which may provide a better understanding of health disparities in ethnic minorities.

Atitudes dos profissionais da saúde em relação ao diabetes mellitus: revisão integrativa / Actitudes de los profesionales sanitarios relacionadas con la diabetes mellitus: una revisión integradora / Health professionals attitudes towards diabetes mellitus: an integrative review

RESUMO Investigar na literatura como são caracterizadas as atitudes dos profissionais da saúde em relação ao diabetes. Revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases Scientific Electronic Library Online, Biblioteca digital brasileira de teses e dissertações, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, National Library of Medicine, Google Scholar, entre 1990 e 2016, nas línguas inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa. Os resultados dos estudos de natureza quantitativa foram sintetizados e aqueles de natureza qualitativa foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Em linhas gerais, osestudos quantitativos mostram que médicos, enfermeiros, nutricionistas e farmacêuticos apresentaram atitudes favoráveis em relação ao diabetes. Entretanto, foram encontradas diferenças nas atitudes entre as categorias profissionais em relação à gravidade do diabetes Tipo 2, impacto psicossocial do diabetes e autonomia da pessoa que tem diabetes. Enquanto isso, nos estudos qualitativos identificou-se a presença de atitudes favoráveis e desfavoráveis, entre médicos, no que se refere à autonomia da pessoa que tem diabetes. A síntese do conhecimento pode auxiliar na compreensão das diferentes práticas de cuidado em diabetes e no planejamento de programas de atualização profissional.

RESUMEN Investigar en la literatura cómo se caracterizan las actitudes de los profesionales de la salud con respecto a la diabetes. Revisión integradora de la literatura sobre las bases Scientific Electronic Library Online, biblioteca digital brasileña de tesis y disertaciones, Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, National Library of Medicine, Google Scholar, entre 1990 y 2016, en las lenguas inglesa, española y portuguesa. Los resultados de los estudios de naturaleza cuantitativa fueron sintetizados y los de carácter cualitativo se sometieron al análisis de contenido. En general, los estudios cuantitativos muestran que los médicos, enfermeros, nutricionistas y farmacéuticos presentaron actitudes favorables hacia la diabetes. Sin embargo, hubo diferencias en las actitudes entre las categorías profesionales con relación a la gravedad de la diabetes Tipo 2, el impacto psicosocial de la diabetes y la autonomía de la persona que tiene diabetes. Mientras que en los estudios cualitativos fue identificada la presencia de actitudes favorables y desfavorables, entre los médicos, en cuanto a la autonomía de la persona que tiene diabetes. La síntesis del conocimiento puede ayudar en la comprensión de las diferentes prácticas de cuidado de la diabetes y en la planificación de los programas de desarrollo profesional.

ABSTRACT Investigate the literature how are characterized the attitudes of health professionals in relation to diabetes. Integrative literature review on the basis Scientific Electronic Library Online, Brazilian digital library of theses and dissertations, Virtual Health Library, National Library of Medicine, Google Scholar, between 1990 and 2016, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The results of quantitative studies were synthesized and those of a qualitative nature were subjected to content analysis. In general, quantitative studies show that doctors, nurses, dietitians and pharmacists showed favorable attitudes toward diabetes. However, there were differences in attitudes between the professional categories in relation to the severity of Type 2 diabetes, psychosocial impact of diabetes and autonomy of the person with diabetes. Meanwhile, in qualitative studies identified the presence of favorable and unfavorable attitudes among doctors, with regard to the autonomy of the person with diabetes. The synthesis of knowledge may help in understanding the different care practices in diabetes and in the planning of professional development programs.

Tradução, adaptação cultural e validação do questionário Diabetes Attitudes Scale - Third Version (DAS-3) para a população brasileira / To translate, cultural adapt and validate the third version of the Diabetes Attitudes Scale to the cultural context of Brazil

Objetivo. Realizar a tradução, adaptação cultural e validação do instrumento Diabetes Attitudes Scale – third version para o contexto cultural do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo do tipo metodológico, compreendendo três etapas: tradução, adaptação cultural e validação. A primeira etapa foi realizada em parceria com o Laboratório Experimental de Tradução da Faculdade de Letras e o Laboratório de Bioestatística da UFMG. Na segunda etapa, as versões original e traduzida foram submetidas à análise por um Comitê de Juízes constituído por três grupos de 20 profissionais, sendo cada um composto por dez profissionais da área da Saúde e dez da área da Linguística Aplicada, para a avaliação de cada parte do instrumento, resultando em uma amostra de 60 profissionais distribuídos em igual proporção. No entanto, retornaram a avaliação 56 profissionais. A partir da avaliação obtida foi calculado o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC) e a porcentagem de aceitação dos juízes em relação à adequação dos itens avaliados. Todos os dados foram analisados no ambiente de programação estatística R. Em seguida foi realizado o pré-teste com a participação de um total de 25 profissionais da área da Saúde. O instrumento foi enviado por meio eletrônico à profissionais que prestam assistência a pessoas com diabetes Mellitus. Os profissionais foram solicitados a responder as 33 afirmativas do instrumento e a avaliar cada afirmativa quanto à facilidade de entendimento e clareza da informação. Após esta fase, realizou-se um encontro interdisciplinar entre pesquisadores e profissionais da área da Saúde, Linguística Aplicada e Estatística com objetivo de avaliar as sugestões realizadas pelos profissionais da área da Saúde. A cada problema identificado, melhorias foram sugeridas e alterações de cunho semântico, idiomático e cultural realizados. Terceira etapa: Por fim, com objetivo de verificar a confiabilidade do instrumento adaptado culturalmente, este foi...

To translate, cultural adapt and validate the third version of the Diabetes Attitudes Scale to the cultural context of Brazil. METHODS: This was a methodological type of study that comprised three stages: translation, cultural adaptation and validation. The first stage was carried out in partnership with the Laboratory for Experimentation in Translation of the Faculty of Letters and the Laboratory of Biostatistics at UFMG. In the second stage, the original and the translated versions were submitted to analysis by an expert committee formed by three groups of 20 professionals, each consisting of ten health professionals and ten applied linguistics professionals, who were responsible for assessing each part of the instrument. This resulted in a sample of 60 professionals distributed in equal proportion. However, 56 out of 60 professionals returned the questionnaire. After this stage, the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, as well as the percentage of judges who considered the items evaluated to be adequate. All data were analyzed using R - a statistical programming environment. Then the pretest was performed with a group of 25 health professionals. The instrument was sent electronically to professionals who provide care to people with diabetes mellitus. The professionals were asked to respond to the instrument’s 33 statements and to evaluate each statement regarding its understandabiity and clarity. After this stage, there was an interdisciplinary meeting between researchers and health professionals, Applied Linguistics professionals and Statistics professionals, who were responsible for evaluating the suggestions made by the health professionals. Improvements were suggested and semantic, idiomatic and cultural changes were performed to each identified problem. Finally, in the third stage, in order to verify the validity and reliability of the culturally adapted instrument, it was applied to 120 health professionals on two different...

Abandono ou descontinuidade do tratamento da tuberculose em Rio Branco, Acre / Dropouts or discontinuity of the treatment of tuberculosis in Rio Branco, Acre

Esta pesquisa investiga os fatores que estão relacionados à descontinuidade do tratamento da tuberculose em Rio Branco-Acre e foi realizada com uma contribuição da etnografia para uma apreensão da realidade a ser estudada. Foi desenvolvida em duas etapas de mapeamento: na primeira, procedeu-se à busca de informações na base de dados do SINAN (Sistema de Notificação de Agravos Nacional) e na Coordenação Municipal do Programa de Tuberculose, a segunda etapa procurou registrar fatos a partir da observação do atendimento numa unidade de saúde que presta assistência aos portadores de tuberculose em tratamento, e entrevistas com eles, assim como de profissionais que prestavam assistência. Na análise das observações, coletas de narrativas e entrevistas, observou-se que os profissionais dos serviços de saúde caracterizam algumas pessoas como propícias a descontinuarem o tratamento e não consideram os diferentes modos de vida na abordagem de seus pacientes, dificultando, assim, a formação do vínculo e favorecendo a descontinuidade ou o abandono. Identificou-se também que as pessoas que faziam o tratamento da tuberculose tinham várias formas de lidar com as limitações que foram geradas pela doença, como a restrição para o trabalho, entre outras, e as pessoas que o descontinuaram levavam em consideração seu sistema de crenças e valores, bem como a própria percepção de saúde/doença, devido a estarem se sentindo curados quando o interromperam.

Dimensiones culturales sobre el Dengue en profesionales de la salud de México y Colombia / Cultural dimensions concerning healthcare workers in México and Colombia having dengue

Objetivo Comprender las dimensiones culturales del dengue en profesionales de la salud de México y Colombia. A fin de generar elementos para la formación y actualización de los éstos en la prevención y atención de dicha enfermedad. Método Estudio antropológico cognitivo. Realizado en las ciudades de Morelia, México y Santiago de Cali, Colombia. Participaron un total de 197 profesionales de salud seleccionados por muestreo propositivo. Se utilizaron las técnicas de listados libres y el sorteo de montones. Se indagaron términos asociados al concepto dengue y grupos de dimensiones conceptuales. Resultados Las concepciones culturales del dengue en los participantes de México hicieron énfasis en la prevención. Los de Colombia mostraron un lenguaje biomédico y su interés se centró en la sintomatología. En general se mostró una visión integral del dengue que incluye la visión médica y aspectos sociales interrelacionados. Conclusiones Los profesionales de la salud requieren de mayor formación en torno al tema del dengue y su prevención.

Objective Understanding cultural dimensions concerning Mexican and Colombian healthcare workers suffering from dengue to produce information and elements for healthcare and prevention. Method This was a cognitive anthropological study. Purposive sampling was used to select 197 healthcare workers in Morelia, Mexico, and Santiago de Cali, Colombia; free associations lists and pile sorting were used. Terms associated with the concept of dengue and conceptual dimension groups were investigated. Results Participants cultural conceptions regarding dengue in Mexico emphasised prevention, whilst those in Colombia concentrated on biomedical language and symptoms. Overall, a holistic vision was shown which included a medical vision and related social aspects. Conclusions Health professionals require more information about dengue and its prevention.

A trajetória de mulheres com câncer de mama: uma proposta de estudo sobre prática avaliativa de integralidade no município de Volta Redonda / The path of women with breast cancer: a proposal of a study on integrality evaluation practice in the municipality of Volta Redonda

Esta pesquisa objetivou compreender o itinerário terapêutico de quatro mulheres com câncer de mama, no que concerne à trajetória assistencial na busca por cuidado no SUS de Volta Redonda, procurando perceber em que medida elas tiveram suas necessidades, relacionadas ao processo de adoecimento, atendidas pelos serviços de saúde, tendo como eixo norteador a integralidade em saúde. O objeto do estudo foi construído a partir do entendimento do câncer de mama como um problema de saúde pública, da contextualização do programa de controle do câncer de mama e da reflexão sobre avaliação, integralidade e itinerários terapêuticos como prática avaliativa no campo da saúde. Como trajetória metodológica, para o alcance dos objetivos propostos, a opção foi desenvolver um estudo de natureza qualitativa, empregando a história de vida como abordagem central. Nesta perspectiva, para o trabalho investigativo e interação com as quatro mulheres, visando à narrativa de suas experiências, foi utilizada a técnica de entrevista aberta na coleta de dados, com ênfase na etapa da vida após a descoberta do câncer de mama e a busca de cuidado nos serviços de saúde. As entrevistas, complementadas pelos dados dos prontuários e do diário de campo, constituíram-se como o material empírico para proceder às análises, visando, sobretudo, a apreender os atributos de integralidade na dimensão da organização dos serviços de saúde e nos conhecimentos e práticas dos profissionais de saúde. Também se buscou analisar o cumprimento dos objetivos do Programa Nacional de Controle do Câncer de Mama, em Volta Redonda, tendo em vista que as ações aí propostas representam um conjunto de prescrições para reversão da atual situação da doença no país. Pode-se evidenciar, nas análises, que o cuidado em saúde dedicado a essas mulheres com câncer de mama está muito distante do princípio da integralidade que nos orienta e que defendemos como bandeira de luta...

Religion, spirituality, health and medicine: why should Indian physicians care?

Religion, spirituality, health and medicine have common roots in the conceptual framework of relationship amongst human beings, nature and God. Of late, there has been a surge in interest in understanding the interplay of religion, spirituality, health and medicine, both in popular and scientific literature. A number of published empirical studies suggest that religious involvement is associated with better outcomes in physical and mental health. Despite some methodological limitations, these studies do point towards a positive association between religious involvement and better health. When faced with disease, disability and death, many patients would like physicians to address their emotional and spiritual needs, as well. The renewed interest in the interaction of religion and spirituality with health and medicine has significant implications in the Indian context. Although religion is translated as dharma in major Indian languages, dharma and religion are etymologically different and dharma is closer to spirituality than religion as an organized institution. Religion and spirituality play important roles in the lives of millions of Indians and therefore, Indian physicians need to respectfully acknowledge religious issues and address the spiritual needs of their patients. Incorporating religion and spirituality into health and medicine may also go a long way in making the practice of medicine more holistic, ethical and compassionate. It may also offer new opportunities to learn more about Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine and have more enriched understanding and collaborative interaction between different systems of medicine. Indian physicians may also find religion and spirituality significant and fulfilling in their own lives.

Changing ethics in medical practice: a Thai perspective.

The pace of social change in Thailand has seen the rise of various medical services and a global clientele. Currently, medical tourism and cosmetic surgery have an important role in medical practice here. A growing medical market offers a range of services at competitive rates and high levels of efficiency. This essay provides an overview of medical practices in Thailand and their effect on ordinary people.

Measurement Issues across Different Cultures / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purposes of this methodologic paper are to (1) describe theoretical background in conducting research across different cultures; (2) address measurement issues related to instrument administration; and (3) provide strategies to deal with measurement issues. METHODS: A thorough review of the literature was conducted. A theoretical background is provided, and examples of administering instrument in studies are described. RESULTS: When applying an instrument to different cultures, both equivalence and bias need to be established. Three levels of equivalence, i.e., construct equivalence, measurement unit equivalence, and full score comparability, need to be explained to maintain the same concept being measured. In this paper, sources of bias in construct, method, and item are discussed. Issues related to instrument administration in a cross-cultural study are described. CONCLUSION: Researchers need to acknowledge various group differences in concept and/or language that include a specific set of symbols and norms. There is a need to question the philosophical and conceptual appropriateness of an assessment measure that has been conceptualized and operationalized in a different culture. Additionally, testing different response formats such as narrowing response range can be considered to reduce bias.

Perfil das atitudes de formandos em enfermagem frente aos transtornos mentais no Brasil, Chile e Peru / Attitudes of graduate nursing students towards mental disorders in Brazil, Chile and Peru

Este estudo teve por objetivo traçar um perfil de atitudes de formandos em enfermagem frente aos transtornos mentais em três culturas diferentes: Brasil, Chile e Peru. Para isso foi utilizada a escala de opiniões sobre a doença mental. Os resultados mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significantes no nível de 5 por cento nos fatores autoritarismo, ideologia de higiene mental, restrição serial e visão minoritária, favoráveis aos estudantes brasileiros. No fator etiologia interpessoal, os resultados foram favoráveis aos estudantes peruanos e no fator etiologia de esforço mental, favoráveis aos chilenos. No fator benevolência não houve evidência estatística que afirmasse diferença. Esses resultados permitem concluir que os formandos brasileiros apresentaram atitudes mais positivas frente aos transtornos mentais, mostrando-se menos autoritários, restritivos e discriminadores que os chilenos e peruanos, portanto, com maiores possibilidades de desenvolverem condutas mais terapêuticas com a pessoa portadora dos transtornos referidos.

The Role Adaptation Process of Head Nurses in the General Hospitals / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify the role adaptation process experienced by head nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from 10 head nurses with in-depth interviews about their actual experiences. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The collected data were analyzed by the grounded theory methodology of Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category was identified as "weighing and balancing," and the role adaptation process was divided into six stages by time sequence: inquiring, approaching to others, bringing people into their fold, working with conviction, avoiding conflicts, and settling. CONCLUSION: The results of this study yield useful information for top mangers of nursing to identify, by stages, the demands of the head nurses in their role adaptation process. The findings of this study contributes to developing programs that facilitates the head nurses' role adaptation.

A Q-methodological Study on Nursing Students' Attitudes toward Nursing Ethics / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: Professional nursing ethics is a living, dynamic set of standards for nurses'professional moral behavior. Furthermore, in daily clinical nursing training, nursing students are constantly confronted with decisionmaking that is moral in nature. The aim of this study was to identify the perceived ethical attitudes in the clinical training process of senior nursing students using Q-methodology to offer basic strategies for nursing ethics education and thereby improve patients'care. METHODS: Q-methodology provides a scientific method for identifying perception structures that exist within certain individuals or groups. Thirty-seven participants in a university rated 38 selected Q-statements on a scale of 1-9. The collected data were analyzed using pc-QUNAL software. RESULTS: Principal component analysis identified 3 types of ethical attitudes in nursing students in Korea. The categories were labeled Sacred-life, Science-realistic and Humane-life. Sacred-life individuals think that a life belongs to an absolute power (God), not a man, and a human life is a high and noble thing. Science-realistic individuals disagreed that allowing an induced abortion or embryo (human) duplication is unethical behavior that provokes a trend, which takes the value of a life lightly; most of them took a utilitarian position with respect to ethical decisions. Humane-life individuals exhibit a tendency toward human-centered thought with respect to ethical attitudes. CONCLUSION: This study will be of interest to educators of students of nursing and hospital nursing administrators. Also, the findings may provide the basis for the development of more appropriate strategies to improve nursing ethics education programs.

Pain tracker diagnostic instrument: effect on patients' satisfaction with their interactions with the primary care physician

In a r and omized trial, the pain tracker instrument was evaluated as a diagnostic screening tool and for its effect on patients' satisfaction with their interactions with the primary care physician. The instrument form was filled in by the physician after asking the study patients about symptoms. Control [n = 53] and study patients [n = 49] were interviewed and the instrument's effect was analysed from responses to 15 statements. The pain tracker group were significantly more satisfied with the physician relationship than were controls [mean satisfaction score 85 +/- 8 versus 61 +/- 9]. A direct linear correlation was found between patients' assessment of the visit and overall satisfaction [r = 0.86]. The pain tracker can be an important component in history taking and a useful diagnostic screening tool in pain presentations

Traditional healers in the Qazvin region of the Islamic Republic of Iran: a qualitative study

We identified and categorized by method of therapy 15 traditional healers in the recorded by actual patients or by observers simulating a medical condition. The treatment practices of the 15 healers [8 men and 7 women] included herbal remedies [four], bone-setting [five], traditional methods for the treatment of sore throat [two], massage therapy using plant oils [one], cupping [two], and leech therapy [one]. Despite an adequate number of physicians practising in the region, traditional healers continue to be consulted. We recommend that the efficacy of their treatments be further studied and that they be encouraged to contribute positively to the broader health objectives of Iranian society

The role of folk healers in the malaria volunteer program in Thailand.

In the Malaria Control Program of Thailand, villagers were recruited as village malaria volunteers to assist and participate in passive case detection at the community level by preparation of blood smears and provision of presumptive treatment to suspected cases. Among these volunteers, there were some folk healers. This study was intended to investigate the role of the folk healer volunteer in the Malaria Control Program in the northern area under the responsibility of the Malaria Zone 1, Region 2 in Fang, Mae Ai and Chiang Dao Districts of Chiang Mai Province. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (participant and non-participant observations and structured questionnaires) were used to get information from 246 volunteers, of whom 113 were folk healers. Most of the volunteers were male and more than half were in the age group 30-50 years. Almost all volunteers had completed the compulsory education and farming was their main occupation. Folk healer volunteers were older and had been in the service longer than the non-folk healer volunteers. Both groups of volunteers shared some negative attitudes towards the Malaria Control Program, such as the interference with their occupation and the waste of time. However, the folk healer volunteers had more positive attitudes towards the program in terms of gaining social respect and the willingness to stay on. It was also found that the folk healer volunteers performed their assignment better than the non-folk healer volunteers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)