scholarly journals Public health nutrition practice in Canada: a situational assessment

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 773-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Fox ◽  
Cathy Chenhall ◽  
Marie Traynor ◽  
Cindy Scythes ◽  
Jane Bellman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Technological Factor ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Leadership Structure ◽  
Situational Assessment ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Nutrition Practice

AbstractObjectiveRenewed focus on public health has brought about considerable interest in workforce development among public health nutrition professionals in Canada. The present article describes a situational assessment of public health nutrition practice in Canada that will be used to guide future workforce development efforts.MethodsA situational assessment is a planning approach that considers strengths and opportunities as well as needs and challenges, and emphasizes stakeholder participation. This situational assessment consisted of four components: a systematic review of literature on public health nutrition workforce issues; key informant interviews; a PEEST (political, economic, environmental, social, technological) factor analysis; and a consensus meeting.FindingsInformation gathered from these sources identified key nutrition and health concerns of the population; the need to define public health nutrition practice, roles and functions; demand for increased training, education and leadership opportunities; inconsistent qualification requirements across the country; and the desire for a common vision among practitioners.ConclusionsFindings of the situational assessment were used to create a three-year public health nutrition workforce development strategy. Specific objectives of the strategy are to define public health nutrition practice in Canada, develop competencies, collaborate with other disciplines, and begin to establish a new professional group or leadership structure to promote and enhance public health nutrition practice. The process of conducting the situational assessment not only provided valuable information for planning purposes, but also served as an effective mechanism for engaging stakeholders and building consensus.

scholarly journals A capacity-building conceptual framework for public health nutrition practice

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1031-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Baillie ◽  
Christel Bjarnholt ◽  
Marlies Gruber ◽  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Systematic Assessment ◽  
Effective Public Health ◽  
Nutrition Practice

AbstractObjectivesTo describe a conceptual framework to assist in the application of capacity-building principles to public health nutrition practice.DesignA review of the literature and consideration of the determinants of effective public health nutrition practice has been used to inform the development of a conceptual framework for capacity building in the context of public health nutrition practice.ResultThe limited literature supports a greater integration and application of capacity-building strategies and principles in public health nutrition practice, and that this application should be overt and strategic. A framework is proposed that identifies a number of determinants of capacity for effective public health nutrition action. The framework represents the key foundations for building capacity including leadership, resourcing and intelligence. Five key strategic domains supported by these foundation elements, including partnerships, organisational development, project management quality, workforce development and community development, are proposed. This framework can be used to assist the systematic assessment, development and evaluation of capacity-building activity within public health nutrition practice.ConclusionsCapacity building is a strategy within public health nutrition practice that needs to be central to public health nutrition intervention management. The present paper defines, contextualises and outlines a framework for integrating and making explicit the importance of capacity building within public health nutrition practice at many levels.

scholarly journals A conceptual framework for intelligence-based public health nutrition workforce development

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 599-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Problem Resolution ◽  
Strategy Planning ◽  
Nutrition Problem

AbstractObjective:This paper describes a conceptual framework and associated intelligence requirements for problem-based workforce development for public health nutrition.Methods:A conceptual framework for public health nutrition workforce development was constructed based on a review of the literature and consideration of the intelligence needs to inform workforce development planning.Results:A cyclical conceptual framework including five intelligence-linked components including public health nutrition problems and priorities, solutions and best buys, work needed, capacity to do the work and workforce development needs. This framework applied to the Australian situation illustrates its applications in workforce development research and planning. Although the existing availability of workforce development intelligence in each of these components varies, the framework does provide a systematic approach for workforce development research and planning directly related to public health nutrition problem resolution.Conclusions:This framework highlights deficiencies in the existing public health nutrition workforce development intelligence and the need for further research to inform workforce development strategy planning.

scholarly journals Strengthening public health nutrition: findings from a situational assessment to inform system-wide capacity building in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (16) ◽  
pp. 3045-3055
Author(s):  
Rachel JL Prowse ◽  
Sarah A Richmond ◽  
Sarah Carsley ◽  
Heather Manson ◽  
Brent Moloughney
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Extreme Case ◽  
Data Generation ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
The Public ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Situational Assessment ◽  
Access To Data ◽  
Nutrition Practice

AbstractObjective:To assess public health nutrition practice within the public health system in Ontario, Canada to identify provincial-wide needs for scientific and technical support.Design:A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to identify activities, strengths, challenges and opportunities in public health nutrition practice using semi-structured key informant interviews (n 21) and focus groups (n 10). Recorded notes were analysed concurrently with data generation using content analysis. System needs were prioritised through a survey.Setting:Public health units.Participants:Eighty-nine practitioners, managers, directors, medical officers of health, researchers and other stakeholders were purposively recruited through snowball and extreme case sampling.Results:Five themes were generated: (i) current public health nutrition practice was broad, complex, in transition and collaborative; (ii) data/evidence/research relevant to public health needs were insufficiently available and accessible; (iii) the amount and specificity of guidance/leadership was perceived to be mismatched with strong evidence that diet is a risk factor for poor health; (iv) resources/capacity were varied but insufficient and (v) understanding of nutrition expertise in public health among colleagues, leadership and other organisations can be improved. Top ranked needs were increased understanding, visibility and prioritisation of healthy eating and food environments; improved access to data and evidence; improved collaboration and coordination; and increased alignment of activities and goals.Conclusions:Collective capacity in the public health nutrition can be improved through strategic system-wide capacity-building interventions. Research is needed to explore how improvements in data, evidence and local contexts can bridge research and practice to effectively and efficiently improve population diets and health.

scholarly journals Practitioner consensus on the determinants of capacity building practice in high-income countries

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1898-1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Swanepoel ◽  
Ann Fox ◽  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
High Income ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Nutrition Practice

AbstractObjectiveTo assess and develop consensus among experienced public health nutrition practitioners from high-income countries regarding conceptualisation of capacity building in practice, and to test the content validity of a previously published conceptual framework for capacity building in public health nutrition practice.DesignA Delphi study involving three iterations of email-delivered questionnaires testing a range of capacity determinants derived from the literature. Consensus was set at >50 % of panellists ranking items as ‘very important’ on a five-point Likert scale across three survey rounds.SettingPublic health nutrition practice in Australia, the UK, Canada and the USA.SubjectsPublic health nutrition practitioners and academics.ResultA total of thirty expert panellists (68 % of an initial panel of forty-four participants) completed all three rounds of Delphi questionnaires. Consensus identified determinants of capacity building in practice including partnerships, resourcing, community development, leadership, workforce development, intelligence and quality of project management.ConclusionsThe findings from the study suggest there is broad agreement among public health nutritionists from high-income countries about how they conceptualise capacity building in public health nutrition practice. This agreement suggests considerable content validity for a capacity building conceptual framework proposed by Baillieet al. (Public Health Nutr12, 1031–1038). More research is needed to apply the conceptual framework to the implementation and evaluation of strategies that enhance the practice of capacity building approaches by public health nutrition professionals.

scholarly journals The public health nutrition intervention management bi-cycle: a model for training and practice improvement

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1981-1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Hughes ◽  
Barrie Margetts
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Competency Development ◽  
Practice Improvement ◽  
The Public ◽  
Critical Feedback ◽  
Learning Principles ◽  
Nutrition Practice

AbstractObjectiveThe present paper describes a model for public health nutrition practice designed to facilitate practice improvement and provide a step-wise approach to assist with workforce development.DesignThe bi-cycle model for public health nutrition practice has been developed based on existing cyclical models for intervention management but modified to integrate discrete capacity-building practices.SettingEducation and practice settings.SubjectsThis model will have applications for educators and practitioners.ResultsModifications to existing models have been informed by the authors’ observations and experiences as practitioners and educators, and reflect a conceptual framework with applications in workforce development and practice improvement. From a workforce development and educational perspective, the model is designed to reflect adult learning principles, exposing students to experiential, problem-solving and practical learning experiences that reflect the realities of work as a public health nutritionist. In doing so, it assists the development of competency beyond knowing to knowing how, showing how and doing. This progression of learning from knowledge to performance is critical to effective competency development for effective practice.ConclusionsPublic health nutrition practice is dynamic and varied, and models need to be adaptable and applicable to practice context to have utility. The paper serves to stimulate debate in the public health nutrition community, to encourage critical feedback about the validity, applicability and utility of this model in different practice contexts.

scholarly journals A qualitative evaluation of an Australian public health nutrition workforce development intervention involving mentoring circles

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1458-1465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Palermo ◽  
Roger Hughes ◽  
Louise McCall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Development Intervention ◽  
Supportive Environment ◽  
Split Function ◽  
And Function

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate a mentoring circle workforce development intervention among a group of public health nutrition novices.DesignThe mentoring circle intervention focused on facilitating practice-based public health nutrition competence development and supporting reorientation of practice from clinical services to preventive services. A retrospective post-intervention qualitative semi-structured interview was used to explore the experiences of those participating in the mentoring circle and to make evaluative judgements about intervention attributes and effectiveness.SettingVictoria, Australia.SubjectsThirty-two novice public health nutrition practitioners employed in the state public health system.ResultsKey evaluative theme categories relating to the mentoring circle intervention were identified, including the structure and function of the group, the utility of using advanced-level competency items to guide planning, having a safe and supportive environment for learning and the utility of learning via mentoring and on-the-job experiences. These qualitative evaluation data identify the attributes of the mentoring circle intervention contributing to intervention effectiveness.ConclusionsThis qualitative evaluation indicates that mentoring circles can be an effective workforce capacity-building intervention, particularly in novice workforces characterised by professional isolation and split function roles.

scholarly journals Public health nutrition workforce development in seven European countries: constraining and enabling factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1989-1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Kugelberg ◽  
Svandis Jonsdottir ◽  
Elisabeth Faxelid ◽  
Kristina Jönsson ◽  
Ann Fox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Agents Of Change ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjectivesLittle is known about current public health nutrition workforce development in Europe. The present study aimed to understand constraining and enabling factors to workforce development in seven European countries.DesignA qualitative study comprised of semi-structured face-to-face interviews was conducted and content analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interview data.SettingThe study was carried out in Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.SubjectsSixty key informants participated in the study.ResultsThere are constraining and enabling factors for public health nutrition workforce development. The main constraining factors relate to the lack of a supportive policy environment, fragmented organizational structures and a workforce that is not cohesive enough to implement public health nutrition strategic initiatives. Enabling factors were identified as the presence of skilled and dedicated individuals who assume roles as leaders and change agents.ConclusionsThere is a need to strengthen coordination between policy and implementation of programmes which may operate across the national to local spectrum. Public health organizations are advised to further define aims and objectives relevant to public health nutrition. Leaders and agents of change will play important roles in fostering intersectorial partnerships, advocating for policy change, establishing professional competencies and developing education and training programmes.

scholarly journals Workforce development in South Africa with a focus on public health nutrition

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 792-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelia P Steyn ◽  
Xikombiso G Mbhenyane
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Primary Health Care System ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
National Human

AbstractObjectivesThe present paper aims to review and report on the current and predicted future public health nutrition workforce in South Africa. Additionally, it examines ways in which the Department of Health (DOH) is striving to meet the increasing burden of nutrition-related diseases in South Africa.MethodsThe primary sources of data used for the review were reports from the Census office, South African health reviews, mortality and morbidity statistics, and documents from the Health Professions Council of South Africa.ResultsThere are fewer than 2000 registered dietitians in South Africa and fewer than 600 of them work in the public health sector. Furthermore, professional nurses – who are the backbone of the primary health-care system and deliver the rudiments of basic nutritional care – are not being trained in sufficient numbers to meet population growth; in 2004 there was only one nurse per 4000 persons. This situation is aggravated by the growing burden of conditions associated with both overnutrition and undernutrition, as well as the enormous demands of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The DOH is striving to meet these increasing needs by means of the Integrated Nutrition Programme as well as a National Human Resources Plan which includes numerous strategies to improve the quantity and quality of health professionals’ training, including dietitians and nutritionists. This plan includes the objective of increasing the public health nutrition workforce to more than 250 newly trained dietitians and nutritionists per annum by 2010.

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