scholarly journals Community Engagement: Reducing inequalities acting on environmental health. A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sapienza ◽  
M T Riccardi ◽  
M C Nurchis ◽  
D Pascucci ◽  
G Damiani
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Abstract Sustainability is one of the most important challenges for Healthcare Systems all over the world. According to the Sustainable Development Agenda, one of the goals is to reduce inequalities, and environmental health is faced by several specific goals. Community Engagement can both empower vulnerable populations (so reducing inequalities) and identify the prior environmental issues to address. The aim was to search for public health programs using Community Engagement tools in healthy environment building. A systematic review was conducted searching on Scopus, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. The search string was created according to the Population-Intervention-Context-Outcome model. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions tool was used to assess quality. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and a Chi-Square test was performed to compare studies in which the community carried out engagement interventions with or without the direction of public health institutions (p < 0.05). Of 182 articles, 11 were eventually included. Risk of Bias was moderate in 70% of the articles. 7 studies were conducted in rural areas, while 4 in urban contexts. Target populations were children in 20%, adults in 50% and elderly in 30% of the articles. Concerning the intervention design, 9 studies included the research of local leaderships, and in 7 there were both context study (to identify the main barriers and facilitators) and the active planning of motivational meetings by public health professionals. We found that the level of engagement reached is highly correlated with the presence of public health professionals acting as engaging coaches (p = 0.007). Community engagement allows Public Health to carry out promotion and prevention programs by leveraging community forces. This study shows that one of the most important ingredients to make it work is the active presence of the Public Health professionals acting as community coaches.

scholarly journals Climate and Health Concerns of Montana’s Public and Environmental Health Professionals: a Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Griffin Byron ◽  
Karen L. Akerlof
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Injunctive Norms ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Abstract Background: Rural health professionals stand at the forefront of community response to climate change, but few studies have assessed their perceptions of the threat. Further, no previous study has compared the opinions of environmental to public health professionals or extensively analyzed the factors related to these experts’ climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and injunctive norms. Methods: In conjunction with the Montana Climate Assessment’s 2021 Special Report on Climate Change and Human Health, the 479 members of the Montana Public Health Association and Montana Environmental Health Association were surveyed during September-October 2019, with 39% completing the survey. We summarized descriptive data about their perceptions of local climate-related changes, and their levels of belief that global warming is happening, is mostly human-caused, is a risk to human health, and that their offices and others should take action. We also evaluated which sociodemographic and risk perception factors related to these climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and injunctive norms. Results: Health professionals in Montana, a politically conservative state, demonstrated high levels of awareness that global warming is happening, human-caused, and a threat to human health, well above reported rates of public concern. Eighty-eight percent said that global warming is occurring and 69% that it is mostly anthropogenic. Sixty-nine percent said that their own health was already affected by climate, and 86% said they were already seeing at least one climate change-related event in their communities. Seventy-two percent said that their departments should be preparing to deal with climate change’s health effects, but just 30% said that it is currently happening. We found no statistically significant differences between Montana environmental health and public health professionals in regression models predicting climate beliefs, risk perception, and injunctive norms. As in studies of the public, political ideology and the observation of local climate-related changes were the strongest factors.Conclusions: Montana environmental and public health officials said that departmental action was needed on climate change, indicating the readiness of rural health professionals to take action. Further studies of health professionals in rural regions are warranted.

scholarly journals AN EVALUATION ON THE POLICIES ON PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muswandar Muswandar ◽  
Purnawan Junadi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
The Right

Abstract. Law No. 36 of 2014 is a comprehensive law for health professionals. In that regulation, all health graduates that wish to practice their trade must have a letter of registration (STR). That policy also separated environmental health from public health. This was the reason why we decided to evaluate the policy that is related to public health professionals. This evaluation was a retrospective analysis that used in-depth interviews and literary research, respectively as primary and secondary data. From this research we discovered that public health graduates is has their own profession. And to obtain the right to practice their trade, they must pass the competence standard test. However, according to other regulations, only vocational or professional education graduates can participate in the test. Since there currently are no professional education institutions available for public health professionals, Minister of Health Regulation No. 41/2013 takes over. According to this law, all public health graduates will be provided an STR until there is a professional education institution. We also discovered that environmental health should NOT be separated from public health, since it is a large part of it. And therefore, the law must be amended. Abstrak. Undang-undang (UU) No. 36 Tahun 2014 mengatur tenaga kesehatan secara komprehensif. Dalam UU tersebut, semua tenaga kesehatan yang berpraktek wajib memiliki surat tanda registrasi (STR). Kebijakan juga telah memisahkan kesehatan lingkungan dari kesehatan masyarakat (kesmas). Oleh karena itu peneliti tertarik untuk melakukan evaluasi kebijakan khususnya terhadap konten kebijakan yang berhubungan dengan tenaga kesmas. Evaluasi isi kebijakan ini dilakukan dengan analisis retrospektif yang menggunakan wawancara mendalam dan telaah literatur sebagai data primer dan sekunder. Dari penelitian ini diketahui bahwa tenaga kesehatan masyarakat layak disebut sebagai sebuah profesi. Untuk mendapatkan STR, tenaga kesmas harus lulus ujian kompetensi. Tetapi, menurut peraturan yang berlaku, yang dapat mengikuti ujian kompetensi adalah lulusan pendidikan vokasi atau profesi. Namun, karena belum adanya pendidikan profesi untuk tenaga kesmas, maka untuk sementara Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor 41 Tahun 2013 digunakan sebagai solusi. Dimana semua lulusan institusi kesmas akan mendapatkan STR hingga terdapat institusi pendidikan yang menyelenggarakan pendidikan profesi. Selain itu ditemukan bahwa kesling sebenarnya merupakan bagian yang penting dari kesmas, baik dalam literatur maupun pendapat para ahli. Sehingga sebaiknya dilakukan revisi atau amandemen untuk UU tersebut.

scholarly journals An African Response to COVID-19: From principled first response to just recovery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepayan Basu Ray
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
International Policy ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
First Response ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
High Level ◽  
Health Messaging

In November 2020 Oxfam and SOAS facilitated an online high-level event to bring together African and international policy and public-health professionals to discuss their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and offer insights into strategies and policies they have enacted in their respective contexts. Speakers tackled a wide range of issues, including government strategies and policies implemented, public health messaging and community engagement, varying threads of intersectionality and an honest discussion about gaps and additional support. This ‘outcomes’ paper draws out the key themes, trends and recommendations emerging from the discussions to inform a people-not-profit-centric Covid response.

scholarly journals Climate and health concerns of Montana’s public and environmental health professionals: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Byron ◽  
Karen L. Akerlof
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Health Association

Abstract Background Rural health professionals stand at the forefront of community response to climate change, but few studies have assessed their perceptions of the threat. Further, no previous study has compared the opinions of environmental to public health professionals or extensively analyzed the factors related to these experts’ climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and issue prioritization. Methods In conjunction with the Montana Climate Assessment’s 2021 Special Report on Climate Change and Human Health, the 479 members of the Montana Public Health Association and Montana Environmental Health Association were surveyed during September–October 2019, with 39% completing the survey. We summarized descriptive data about their perceptions of local climate-related changes and their beliefs that global warming is happening, is mostly human-caused, is a risk to human health, and that their offices and others should take action. We also evaluated which sociodemographic and risk perception factors related to these climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and workplace issue prioritization. Results Health professionals in Montana, a politically conservative state, demonstrated high levels of awareness that global warming is happening, human-caused, and a threat to human health, well above reported rates of public concern. Eighty-eight percent said that global warming is occurring and 69% that it is mostly anthropogenic. Sixty-nine percent said that their own health was already affected by climate, and 86% said they were already seeing at least one climate change-related event in their communities. Seventy-two percent said that their departments should be preparing to deal with climate change’s health effects, but just 30% said that it is currently happening. We found no statistically significant differences between Montana environmental health and public health professionals in regression models predicting climate beliefs, risk perception, and prioritization. As in studies of the public, political ideology and the observation of local climate-related changes were the strongest factors. Conclusions Montana environmental and public health officials said that departmental action was needed on climate change, indicating the readiness of rural health professionals to take action. Further studies of health professionals in rural regions are warranted.

Understanding Wicked Problems: A Key to Advancing Environmental Health Promotion

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marshall W. Kreuter ◽  
Christopher De Rosa ◽  
Elizabeth H. Howze ◽  
Grant T. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Wicked Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Hazardous Waste Sites ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Effective Community

Complex environmental health problems—like air and water pollution, hazardous waste sites, and lead poisoning—are in reality a constellation of linked problems embedded in the fabric of the communities in which they occur. These kinds of complex problems have been characterized by some as “wicked problems” wherein stakeholders may have conflicting interpretations of the problem and the science behind it, as well as different values, goals, and life experiences. Accordingly, policy makers, public health professionals, and other stake-holders who grapple with these problems cannot expect to effectively resolve them by relying solely on expert-driven approaches to problem solving. Rather, they need to acknowledge that wicked environmental health problems are most likely to yield to (1) the application of effective community health promotionskills, (2) a sustained commitment to sound toxicological and epidemiological science, (3) the application of systems thinking, and (4) transparent communication among all stakeholders.

scholarly journals Public health: The voice of professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-183
Author(s):  
Pedro L Ferreira ◽  
Rui Passadouro
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Female Response ◽  
Mainland Portugal ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Public Setting

Abstract Objective To monitor, for the first time in Portugal, job satisfaction on public health units (PHUs). Design Observational, transversal and descriptive/correlational study. Setting All 55 PHUs of mainland Portugal. Participants This study targeted all 1196 public health professionals working in PHUs. Main outcome measures Instrument to Assess Satisfaction of Professionals (IASP), filled online, respecting the ethical considerations and a conceptual measurement model. Results Data were obtained from 64% of professionals serving in PHUs, 73% of them female. Response rate of the physicians was 59.1%, with 72.3% of environmental health technicians, 62.0% of nurses and 58.3% of technical assistants. The average age was 47.6(±10.4) years, from 22 to 69 years. We found fair/good satisfaction with men, less educated and professionals with coordination functions more satisfied and low-level satisfaction with salary. Sociodemographic and labour characteristics play a relevant role on job satisfaction. Being female, a physician and an environmental health technician or working in a public setting increases the probability of low satisfaction. Conclusions Public health professionals are satisfied with their job, revealing high pride in their professions and strongly recommending their units to family and friends. Some variables, for example gender, leadership, marital status and education, do influence satisfaction. However, we found dissatisfaction among physicians when practice is compared with what is thought in the internship. It is possible to change the reality in which public health professionals work and to contribute to a reorganization of resources, new internal dynamics and establishment of improvement plans, aimed at a full accomplishment and job satisfaction.

A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Shazia Iqbal ◽  
Shahzad Ahmad ◽  
Bushra Bano ◽  
Khalid Akkour ◽  
Manal Abdullah Ali Alghamdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Certainty, artificial intelligence (AI) has a remarkable role in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic globally. This review article aimed to determine the outcomes/benefits associated with the use of artificial intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic in different specialties in healthcare. Out of 144 articles, 100 publish article abstracts were reviewed using keywords artificial intelligence, intelligent health systems during COVID-19 pandemic, medical education. This review determined that artificial intelligence has a significant role in predicting the spread of disease by chasing the infected population and can prove as a powerful tool for public health professionals. There is a remarkable role of AI-assisted diagnostic features in radiology to specifically diagnose infected cases with COVID-19. AI assists in taking quicker decision making among health professionals through AI operated apps.This review highlights the need for future research which should emphasize determining the effectiveness and challenges of the use of robotics during pandemics.

Oral health diseases among the older people: a general health perspective

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Health ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Oral Diseases ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
The Relationship

Background: The relationship between oral health and general health is gaining interest in geriatric research; however, a lack of studies dealing with this issue from a general perspective makes it somewhat inaccessible to non-clinical public health professionals. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to describe the relationship between oral health and general health of the elderly on the basis of literature review, and to give non-clinical medical professionals and public health professionals an overview of this discipline. Methods: This study was based on an in-depth review of the literature pertaining to the relationship between oral health and general health among the older people. The tools commonly used to evaluate dental health and the academic researches of male elderly people were also reviewed. And future research directions were summarized. Results: Dental caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, and xerostomia are common oral diseases among the older people. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the leading causes of missing teeth and edentulism. Xerostomia, similar to dry mouth, is another common oral health disease in the older people. No clear correlation exists between the subjective feeling of dryness and an objective decrease of saliva. Rather, both conditions can be explained by changes in saliva. The General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) are the main assessment tools used to examine oral health and quality of life in the older people. The GOHAI tends to be more sensitive to objective values pertaining to oral function. In addition, oral health studies in male elderly people are population-based cohort or cross-sectional studies, involving masticatory function, oral prevention, frailty problems, cardiovascular disease risk, and cognitive status. Conclusion: It is possible to reduce the incidence of certain oral diseases, even among individuals who take oral health care seriously. Oral health care should be based on the viewpoint of comprehensive treatment, including adequate nutrition, good life and psychology, and correct oral health care methods. In the future, researchers could combine the results of meta-analysis with the clinical experience of doctors to provide a more in-depth and broader discussion on oral health research topics concerning the older people.

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