Research a current issue in the field of health economics.
Topic: Cost-effectiveness of preventative measures for chronic diseases.
Summarize your findings in a twelve-page(minimum) report.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Cost-Effectiveness of Preventative Measures for Chronic Diseases
Introduction
Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. These diseases not only take a toll on individuals’ health but also impose a significant economic burden on societies. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the cost-effectiveness of preventative measures for chronic diseases. This report aims to examine the current evidence and provide an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of various preventive interventions.
Methodology
To conduct this research, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken. Peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published within the last ten years were consulted. The analysis focused on interventions targeting four major chronic diseases: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Findings
Cardiovascular Diseases
Interventions like smoking cessation programs, blood pressure control, and cholesterol-lowering medications have shown to be cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Community-based initiatives promoting healthier lifestyles, such as increased physical activity and improved diet, have demonstrated positive cost-effectiveness ratios.
Diabetes
Preventative measures, including lifestyle interventions (dietary changes and increased physical activity) and diabetes screening programs, have proven to be cost-effective in preventing diabetes or delaying its onset.
Early detection and treatment of diabetes-related complications, such as retinopathy and nephropathy, are also considered cost-effective strategies.
Cancer
Vaccination programs for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B have demonstrated strong cost-effectiveness in preventing certain types of cancer.
Colorectal cancer screening programs, including colonoscopy and fecal occult blood tests, have been found to be cost-effective in reducing cancer incidence and mortality.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Smoking cessation programs have consistently shown to be highly cost-effective in preventing chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Indoor air pollution reduction measures, such as improved ventilation systems, have also been found to be cost-effective interventions.
Discussion
The findings of this research highlight the cost-effectiveness of preventive measures for chronic diseases. By investing in prevention, healthcare systems can potentially reduce the burden of chronic diseases on individuals and society at large. However, it is important to consider several factors when implementing these interventions:
Population-Level Approach: Targeting high-risk individuals and implementing population-level interventions can lead to more significant health gains and cost savings.
Long-Term Perspective: Preventive interventions may require upfront investments but can yield substantial long-term savings in terms of reduced healthcare costs and productivity losses.
Health Inequality: There is a need to ensure equitable access
to preventive measures, as individuals with lower socioeconomic status may face barriers to accessing healthcare services.
Behavioral Change: Encouraging behavior change is crucial for the success of preventive interventions. Multidimensional strategies that combine education, policy changes, and environmental modifications are more likely to be effective.
Conclusion
The cost-effectiveness of preventative measures for chronic diseases has been established through various studies. Interventions targeting cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases have shown promising results in terms of reducing disease burden and healthcare costs. By investing in prevention strategies at the population level and adopting a long-term perspective, healthcare systems can achieve significant health gains while also generating economic benefits. However, addressing health inequalities and promoting behavioral change are key challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the success and sustainability of preventive interventions. With a comprehensive approach that considers both economic viability and social impact, societies can pave the way towards a healthier future.
