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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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.

Sustainable diets

2011 ◽  
pp. 379-388
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
The Political ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Individual Behaviour ◽  
The Public ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Sustainability and nutrition 380 Sustainable development 382 Food security 383 Climate change and obesity 384 Useful websites and further reading 388 The public health nutrition field has identified a need to encompass the inter-relationship of man with his environment (The Giessen Declaration, 2005). Ecological public health nutrition places nutrition within its wider structural settings including the political, physical, socio-cultural and economic environment that influence individual behaviour and health. As a consequence, it includes the impact of what is eaten on the natural environment as well as the impact of environmental and climate change on all components of food security, i.e. on what food is available, accessible, utilizable and stable (...

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