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 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 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.

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 The role of mentoring in public health nutrition workforce development. Perspectives of advanced-level practitioners

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 801-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Palermo ◽  
Louise McCall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Postgraduate Education ◽  
Career Pathways ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Competency Development ◽  
Advanced Level

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the nature, role and utility of mentoring in the development of competence in advanced-level Australian public health nutritionists.DesignQualitative study using in-depth interviews.Subjects and settingEighteen advanced-level public health nutritionists working in academic and practice settings in Australia.ResultsThe attributes and career pathways of the subjects were consistent with previous findings. Dissatisfaction with clinical practice was a key reason for choosing a career in public health. Experiential learning, postgraduate education and mentoring from both peers and senior colleagues were the most significant contributors to competency development. The subjects supported mentoring as an important strategy for public health nutrition workforce development and articulated the characteristics and models important for mentoring relationships in public health nutrition.ConclusionsThe present study suggests mentoring was an important part of competency development for advanced-level public health and community nutritionists in Australia. Mentoring programmes based on experiential learning may assist in developing public health nutrition workforce competence.

scholarly journals Public health nutrition workforce composition, core functions, competencies and capacity: perspectives of advanced-level practitioners in Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 607-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
The Public ◽  
Workforce Capacity ◽  
Workforce Composition

AbstractObjectives:To investigate the attitudes, experiences and beliefs of advanced-level public health nutritionists with respect to public health nutrition workforce composition, core functions, competency requirements and existing workforce capacity.Design:Qualitative study using structured interviews.Setting:Australia.Subjects:Forty-one advanced-level public health nutritionists employed in academic and senior technocratic positions in state health systems.Results:Advanced-level public health nutritionists recognise the diversity of the public health nutrition workforce but clearly identify the need for a specialist public health nutrition workforce tier to provide workforce leadership. Nominated core functions for public health nutrition reflect broader public health core functions but, in the context of nutrition, specific problem resolution. Opinions about competency needs were similar to many of the cross-cutting competencies identified in the public health field but with specific application to nutrition problems. Competency in the scientific underpinning of nutrition was considered particularly important and delineated this public health nutrition workforce from the broader public health workforce. Public health nutrition was identified as a specialisation within public health and dietetics. Workforce capacity assessments by this group indicate a need for workforce development.Conclusions:Qualitative data from a large proportion of the Australian public health nutrition leadership group have identified core functions, competencies and workforce development priorities that can be a basis for further systematic research and workforce strategy development.

scholarly journals Competency development needs of the Australian public health nutrition workforce

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 839-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Competency Development ◽  
Questionnaire Response ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectives:To assess factors affecting competency development of the Australian public health nutrition workforce and investigate competency development intentions, barriers and self-reported training needs.Design:Cross-sectional study using self-administered mail- or email-delivered questionnaire.Setting and subjects:Two hundred and forty practitioners working in designated community and public health nutrition positions in the Australian health system.Results:An 87% questionnaire response rate was achieved. The profile of the sample included female practitioners (95%) within the age range of 26–45 years (67%), from dietetic backgrounds (75%) and employed in state health departments as community dietitians/nutritionists (52%) or public health nutritionists (32%). Only 14% had completed higher degree qualifications but most (80%) reported an intention to do so in the future. Entry-level dietetic education was considered by most respondents (57%) to be inadequate preparation for public health nutrition practice but considered it had utility as a precursor for public health nutrition competency development because of its strong grounding in nutrition knowledge, basic research skills and problem-solving. On-the-job learning was the most prominent competency development influence reported by this workforce. Flexibility in teaching and learning approaches is needed to facilitate workforce participation in further competency development. The main competency development needs focused on analytical and policy process competencies; however, there was a general need expressed for competency development across many competency areas.Conclusions:These data provide intelligence to inform public health nutrition workforce development, particularly that relating to continued professional development amongst the existing workforce.

scholarly journals Consensus on the competencies required for public health nutrition workforce development in Europe – the JobNut project

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1439-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svandis Jonsdottir ◽  
Roger Hughes ◽  
Inga Thorsdottir ◽  
Agneta Yngve
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Modified Delphi ◽  
Nutrition Practices ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Competency Domains

AbstractObjectiveTo assess and develop consensus among a European panel of public health nutrition stakeholders regarding the competencies required for effective public health nutrition practice and the level of proficiency required in different practice contexts.DesignA modified Delphi study involving three rounds of questionnaires.SettingEuropean Union.SubjectsPublic health nutrition workforce development stakeholders, including academics, practitioners and employers, from twenty European countries.ResultsA total of fifty-two expert panellists (84 % of an initial panel of sixty-two Delphi participants) completed all three rounds of the Delphi study. The panellists rated the importance of fifty-seven competency units possibly required of a public health nutritionist to effectively practice (Essential competencies). Twenty-nine of the fifty-seven competency units (51 %) met the consensus criteria (≥66·7 % agreement) at the second round of the Delphi survey, with the highest agreement for competencies clustered within theNutrition science,Professional,AnalyticalandPublic health servicescompetency domains. Ratings of the level of competencies required for different levels in the workforce indicated that for a public health nutrition specialist, advanced-level competency was required across almost all the twenty-nine competencies rated as essential. There were limited differences in rating responses between academics and employer panellists throughout the Delphi study.ConclusionsCompetencies identified as essential can be used to review current public health nutrition practices and provide the basis for curriculum design and re-development, continuing education and workforce quality assurance systems in Europe. These are all important tools for systematic and strategic workforce development.

scholarly journals Nutritionists as Policy Advocates: The Case of Obesity Prevention in Quebec, Canada

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Wassef ◽  
François Champagne ◽  
Lambert Farand
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
The Public ◽  
Policy Actors ◽  
Obesity Policy ◽  
Key Policy

Abstract Objective A core function of the public health nutrition workforce is advocacy. Little is known of the nutritionists’ role in policymaking from a policy process theory perspective. This study analyzes the nutritionists’ role in advocating for a six-year governmental plan on obesity prevention in Quebec, Canada. Design We conducted qualitative research using Quebec´s obesity policy as a case study to understand the role of nutritionists in advocating for obesity prevention policies. A conceptual framework combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework with a political analysis model based on the Theory of the Strategic Actor was developed to analyze the beliefs, interests, and strategies of policy actors including nutritionists. Data sources comprised semi-structured open-ended interviews with key policy actors (n=25), including eight nutritionists (32%), and policy-related documents (n=267). Data analysis involved thematic coding and analysis using NVivo 11 Pro. Setting Quebec, Canada Participants Key policy actors including nutritionists Results Nutritionists formed the core of the dominant public health coalition. They advocated for an inter-sectoral governmental plan to prevent obesity through enabling environments. Their advocacy, developed through an iterative process, comprised creating a think tank and reinforcing partnerships with key policy actors, conducting research and developing evidence, communicating policy positions and advocacy materials, participating in deliberative forums and negotiating an agreement with other coalitions in the policy subsystem. Conclusion Nutritionists’ advocacy influenced agenda-setting and policy formulation. This research may contribute to empowering the public health nutrition workforce and strengthening its advocacy practices. It informs practitioners and researchers concerned with obesity policy and workforce development.

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