scholarly journals Community pharmacy as a setting for public health nutrition action: Australian nutritionists’ perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1864-1872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith H Maher ◽  
John Lowe ◽  
Roger Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Infant Nutrition ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Nutrient Supplementation ◽  
Practice Experience ◽  
In Pregnancy

AbstractObjectiveTo explore public health nutritionists’ perceptions of nutrition and its place in community pharmacy (CP) presently and into the future; and to explore perceived opportunities, feasibility and scope of public health nutrition (PHN) interventions in CP, with a focus on maternal and infant nutrition.DesignQualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and drew on hermeneutics as the theoretical framework for analysis and interpretation.SettingQueensland, Australia.SubjectsPublic health nutritionists, identified through purposive, criterion sampling, were chosen due to (i) their role as potential stakeholders, (ii) their knowledge and emphasis on nutrition and (iii) their practice experience.ResultsOpportunities for PHN action focused primarily on actions relating to early nutrient supplementation in pregnancy and breast-feeding protection and promotion. Opportunities in CP were constrained by practitioners’ perception of (i) conflict between health care and commercial interests in CP, (ii) problematic practices in CP and (iii) values and motivations of practitioners and other stakeholders in the CP sector. Strategies were suggested to improve practices and enhance the setting from a PHN perspective. Participants suggested both collaborative and regulatory approaches to achieve settings-based changes, identifying the need for these to coexist for effective outcomes.ConclusionsPublic health nutritionists suggest that opportunities for PHN action are constrained by perceived conflicted interests and that consumers need to be adequately protected from the influence of commercial interests. PHN action in this setting needs adequate reflection on evidence as well as ethics ensuring that practices are ‘for the good’ of mothers and infants.

scholarly journals Health and mass unemployment events—developing a framework for preparedness and response

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-673
Author(s):  
A R Davies ◽  
L Homolova ◽  
C N B Grey ◽  
M A Bellis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact

Abstract Background Mass unemployment events are not uncommon yet the impact on health is not well recognised. There is a need for a preparedness and response framework, as exists for other events that threaten population health. Methods Framework informed by a narrative review of the impact of mass unemployment on health (studies published in English from 1990 to 2016), and qualitative data from 23 semi-structured interviews with individuals connected to historical national and international events, addressing gaps in published literature on lessons learnt from past responses. Results Economic and employment shock triggered by mass unemployment events have a detrimental impact on workers, families and communities. We present a public health informed response framework which includes (i) identify areas at risk, (ii) develop an early warning system, (iii) mobilise multi-sector action including health and community, (iv) provision of support across employment, finance and health (v) proportionate to need, (vi) extend support to family members and (vii) communities and (viii) evaluate and learn. Conclusion Mass unemployment events have an adverse impact on the health, financial and social circumstances of workers, families, and communities. This is the first framework for action to mitigate and address the detrimental impact of mass unemployment events on population health.

Learning Through Practice: The Design and Implementation of an Advanced Integrative Practicum for DrPH Students

2020 ◽  
pp. 237337992093189
Author(s):  
Bree L. Hemingway ◽  
Jamie Q. Felicitas-Perkins ◽  
C. Anderson Johnson ◽  
Michael Osur ◽  
Darleen V. Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Health System ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Professional Programs ◽  
Practice Experience ◽  
High Level ◽  
External Entity

Students enrolled in Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health complete an applied practice experience resulting in an advanced project. This requirement can vary by program, but it commonly occurs as a singular experience after students have begun coursework. In 2016, we assessed the practicum component for the Doctor of Public Health degree at Claremont Graduate University. We sought feedback from employers and reviewed other professional programs with required practice experiences. Data indicated that successful experiences integrated didactic coursework with practice, suggesting the design of an embedded format versus a stand-alone requirement. The Advanced Integrative Practicum (AIP) was launched in Fall 2017 through a partnership between Claremont Graduate University School of Community and Global Health and Riverside University Health System. The practicum series began with an introduction to the health system through rotations led by Riverside University Health System (AIP-A), continued with students engaging with experts to propose solutions to public health issues (AIP-B), and concluded with a high-level practice-based project (AIP-C) where students, under supervision of a mentor at an external entity, implement projects. Qualitative data obtained through final written syntheses indicated that a majority of students feel the experience was integral to their DrPH training. Steps were taken to address threats to sustainability and a program component that seemed not sufficiently engaging. Although the practicum was not continued in its piloted form, best practices were realized as were lessons learned, ultimately leading to broader modifications in the DrPH program curriculum.

scholarly journals Interactions between Physicians and Patients with Neurological Diseases in Albania

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-133
Author(s):  
Jonida Naska
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mother Teresa ◽  
Specialist Doctor

Abstract The aim of this one year study was to assess the interaction between physicians and patients with neurological chronic diseases in public Health Care Settings in Albania. We randomly selected 25 neurologists who are employed at UHC “Mother Teresa” using short semi-structured interviews during 2015-2016. Twelve Female (mean age 37) and thirteen male (mean age 41) were interviewed. The individuals interviewed have worked an average of 14 years as neurologist in Service of Neurology, UHC “Mother Teresa’. In this study, we used qualitative methodology to better evaluate the opinion of physicians about the main concerns related to communication with patients suffering from chronic diseases. In Albania the interaction between physicians and patients is underestimated and the lack of confidence of patients for efficient communication in public health care constitutes the main findings of the all studies conducted in Albania from 1995-2017. This study showed that the social and economic characteristics of the patient directly affect the communication. Traditional norms determine the central role of the doctor in treating the patient's illness in Albania. All patients report many obstacles and a bureaucratic system that makes it difficult to meet a specialist doctor at the Service of Neurology, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” in Albania.

scholarly journals Exploring the Necessity of the Establishment of Doctor of Nursing Practice Program from expertise’s view; A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
mozhgan rivaz
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Doctor Of Nursing Practice ◽  
Managing Change ◽  
Clinical Nursing

Abstract Background Complex healthcare landscape increasingly demands leaders who are adept at managing change in health care environments. The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) prepares nurses for the most advance level of clinical nursing practice. The aim of this study was to explore the necessity of the establishment of the DNP program in Iran from expertise’s view.Methods This study was conducted using a qualitative approach. The participants included thirteen faculty members and PhD candidates who were selected through a purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group and semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.Results Qualitative data analysis resulted in two main categories: “provide infrastructures” and “DNP: as an opportunity to drive positive changes” with two categories respectively.Conclusion The findings showed although DNP as an opportunity to drive positive changes is necessary in the nursing education, but inadequate resources, cultural, social, and economic differences in the developing countries especially in Iran, are important limitations of the implementation of the DNP. Therefore, a multidisciplinary collaboration to provide a well-integrated means of meeting the needs of the patients recommended for better designing of the DNP and break down the obstacles.

scholarly journals The hospital designed by hospitalized children and adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl 4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Karoline Dias da Silva Cassemiro ◽  
Aline Cristiane Cavicchioli Okido ◽  
Maria Cândida de Carvalho Furtado ◽  
Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hospitalized Children ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Environmental Theory ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify, through the contributions of hospitalized children and adolescents, the characteristics they consider necessary for a hospital that promotes well-being and development. Method: descriptive and exploratory study, with qualitative data analysis, carried out with a total of 30 hospitalized children and adolescents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, mediated by drawing, and analyzed by inductive thematic analysis, supported by the theoretical framework of the humanization of health care and the Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory. Results: the designed hospital takes up the principles of Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory, as well as one of the guidelines of the National Humanization Policy, the environment, from two perspectives: elements and material resources from the physical environment; elements of comfort and well-being environment. Final considerations: hospitals such as the projected institution corroborate what is recommended in public policies, as they qualify health care.

scholarly journals Implementing COVID-19 Surveillance Through Inter-Organizational Coordination: A Qualitative Study of Three Cities in Colombia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Turner ◽  
Carolina Segura ◽  
Natalia Niño
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Coordination Strategies

Abstract Introducing comprehensive surveillance is recommended as an urgent public health measure to control and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. However, its implementation has proven challenging as it requires inter-organizational coordination among multiple health care stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of soft and hard mechanisms in the implementation of inter-organizational coordination strategies for COVID-19 surveillance within Colombia, drawing on evidence from the cities of Bogotá, Cali and Cartagena. The study used a case study approach to understand the perspectives of local and national authorities, insurance companies and health providers in the implementation of inter-organizational coordination strategies for COVID-19 surveillance. 81 semi-structured interviews were conducted between June and November 2020. The data was analysed by codes and categorized using New NVivo software. The study identified inter-organizational coordination strategies that were implemented to provide COVID-19 surveillance in the three cities. Both soft (e.g. trust and shared purpose) and hard mechanisms (e.g. formal agreements and regulations) acted as mediators for collaboration and helped to address existing structural barriers in the provision of health services. The findings suggest that soft and hard mechanisms contributed to promoting change among health care system stakeholders and improved inter-organizational coordination for disease surveillance. The findings contribute to evidence regarding practices to improve coordinated surveillance of disease, including the roles of new forms of financing and contracting between insurers and public and private health service providers, logistics regarding early diagnosis in infectious disease, and the provision of health services at the community level regardless of insurance affiliation. Our research provides evidence to improve disease surveillance frameworks in fragmented health systems contributing to public health planning and health system improvement.

scholarly journals Integration of and visions for community pharmacy in primary health care in Denmark

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 2212
Author(s):  
Rikke N. Hansen ◽  
Lotte S. Nørgaard ◽  
Ulla Hedegaard ◽  
Lone Søndergaard ◽  
Kerly Servilieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Central Government ◽  
National Level ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Government

In 2014, the Danish government launched a plan for health entitled: “Healthier lives for everyone – national goals for the health of Danes within the next 10 years”. The overall objective is to prolong healthy years of life and to reduce inequality in health. In Denmark, the responsibility for health and social care is shared between the central government, the regions and the municipalities. National and local strategies seek to enhance public health through national and local initiatives initiated by different stakeholders. The Danish community pharmacies also contribute to promoting public health through distribution of and counselling on medication in the entire country and through offering several pharmacy services, six of which are fully or partly remunerated on a national level. Because of greater demands from patients, health care professionals and society and a lack of general practitioners, the Danish community pharmacies now have the opportunity to suggest several new functions and services or to extend existing services. The Danish pharmacy law changed in 2015 with the objective to maintain and develop community pharmacies and to achieve increased patient accessibility. The change in the law made it possible for every community pharmacy owner to open a maximum of seven pharmacy branches (apart from the main pharmacy) in a range of 75 km. This change also increased the competition between community pharmacies and consequently the pharmacies are now under financial pressure. On the other hand, each pharmacy may have been given an incentive to develop their specific pharmacy and become the best pharmacy for the patients. Community pharmacies are working to be seen as partners in the health care system. This role is in Denmark increasingly being supported by the government through the remunerated pharmacy services and through contract with municipalities. Concurrent with the extended tasks for the Danish community pharmacies and utilisation of their excellent competencies in medication the community pharmacies need to focus on their main tasks of supplying medicines and implementing services. This requires efficient management, an increased use of technology for distribution and communication and continuing education and training.

scholarly journals Primary health care policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in Lebanon

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souheil Hallit ◽  
Carla Abou Selwan ◽  
Pascale Salameh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Strategic Plan ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Pharmacy Profession

Within a crippling economic context and a rapidly evolving healthcare system, pharmacists in Lebanon are striving to promote their role in primary care. Community pharmacists, although held in high esteem by the population, are not recognised as primary health care providers by concerned authorities. They are perceived as medication sellers. The role of the pharmacist in primary health care networks, established by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to serve most vulnerable populations, is limited to medication delivery. The practice of the pharmacy profession in Lebanon has been regulated in 1950 by the Lebanese Pharmacists Association [Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon] (OPL). In 2016, the OPL published its mission, vision, and objectives, aiming to protect the pharmacists’ rights by enforcing rules and procedures, raise the profession’s level through continuous education, and ensure patients’ appropriate access to medications and pharmacist’s counseling for safe medication use. Since then, based on the identified challenges, the OPL has suggested several programs, inspired by the World Health Organization and the International Pharmaceutical Federation guidelines, as part of a strategic plan to develop the pharmacy profession and support patient safety. These programs included the application of principles of good governance, the provision of paid services, developing pharmacists’ core and advanced competencies, generation of accreditation standards for both community pharmacy and pharmacy education, suggesting new laws and decrees, continuing education consolidation and professional development. There was an emphasis on all decisions to be evidence assessment-based. However, OPL faces a major internal political challenge: its governing body, which is reelected every three years, holds absolute powers in changing strategies for the three-year mandate, without program continuation beyond each mandate. Within this context, we recommend the implementation of a strategic plan to integrate pharmacy in primary health centers, promoting the public health aspect of the profession and taking into account of critical health issues and the changing demographics and epidemiological transition of the Lebanese population. Unless the proposed blueprint in this paper is adopted, the profession is unfortunately condemned to disappear in the current political, economic and health-related Lebanese context.

scholarly journals Primary health care policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Gastelurrutia ◽  
Maria J. Faus ◽  
Fernando Martinez-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
The State ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
State Health ◽  
Primary Health

From a political and governance perspective Spain is a decentralized country with 17 states [comunidades autónomas] resulting in a governmental structure similar to a federal state. The various state regional health services organizational and management structures are focused on caring for acute illnesses and are dominated by hospitals and technology. In a review by the Interstate Council, a body for intercommunication and cooperation between the state health care services and national government, there is a move to improve health care through an integrative approach between specialized care and primary care at the state level. Community pharmacy does not appear to have a major role in this review. Primary health care is becoming more important and leading the change to improve the roles of the health care teams. Primary care pharmacists as the rest of public health professionals are employed by the respective states and are considered public servants. Total health care expenditure is 9.0% of its GDP with the public health sector accounting for the 71% and the private sector 29% of this expenditure. Community pharmacy contracts with each state health administration for the supply and dispensing of medicines and a very limited number of services. There are approximately 22,000 community pharmacies and 52,000 community pharmacists for a population of 47 million people. All community pharmacies are privately owned with only pharmacists owning a single pharmacy. Pharmacy chain stores are not legally permitted. Community pharmacy practice is based on dispensing of medications and dealing with consumer minor symptoms and requests for nonprescription medications although extensive philosophical deep debates on the conceptual and practical development of new clinical services have resulted in national consensually agreed classifications, definitions and protocolized services. There are a few remunerated services in Spain and these are funded at state, provincial or municipal level. There are no health services approved or funded at a national level. Although the profession promulgates a patient orientated community pharmacy it appears to be reluctant to advocate for a change in the remuneration model. The profession as a whole should reflect on the role of community pharmacy and advocate for a change to practice that is patient orientated alongside the maintenance of its stance on being a medication supplier. The future strategic position of community pharmacy in Spain as a primary health care partner with government would then be enhanced.

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