Policymakers’ perspectives on designing school-based health initiatives for Victorian adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1462-1473
Author(s):  
Sarah Meiklejohn ◽  
Tammie Choi ◽  
Anna Peeters ◽  
Lisa Ryan ◽  
Claire Palermo
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Interpretive Policy Analysis ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
School Based ◽  
Programme Design ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Initiatives based on the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework have previously been successful in improving health and well-being yet there is little evidence of how these findings translate into policy. This study therefore aimed to analyse the political considerations that underpinned policymakers’ decisions for the design and implementation of a programme based on HPS in middle and high schools in Victoria, Australia. Interpretive policy analysis was undertaken using interviews with a purposive sample of government and non-government policy actors. Interviews explored factors influencing programme design and implementation and were analysed using thematic analysis. Ten in-depth interviews, including 11 participants, were conducted. The analysis revealed four themes. The Achievement Program was designed through (i) the establishment of strategic collaborations and good governance, involving people that made valuable and diverse contributions to the design process while acknowledging their (ii) positions of power, (iii) ensuring careful attention was paid to evidence-informed programme design and (iv) incorporation of real-time feedback from other settings. Policymakers believe this approach has the potential to improve policy adoption. There is a need to explore if this approach to policy development influences adherence and improves health outcomes.

scholarly journals Possibilities for Maintaining Appetite in Recovering COVID-19 Patients

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Alexander Teymour Zadeh Baboli Høier ◽  
Nora Chaaban ◽  
Barbara Vad Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Hedonic Value ◽  
Trigeminal Stimulation ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Desire To Eat ◽  
Depth Interviews

COVID-19 and sequelae thereof are known to cause chemosensory dysfunction, posing a risk for intake and adequate nutrition for recovery. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the subjective strategies for maintaining appetite applied by patients recovering from COVID-19. The study included 19 in-depth interviews, focusing on patients suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. The results were analysed using a thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results on strategies for maintaining appetite included four key themes: (1) a focus on well-functioning senses, (2) a focus on familiar foods, (3) a focus on the eating environment, and (4) a focus on post-ingestive well-being. It was found that factors prior to, during and after food intake, as well as the context, could influence desire to eat and pleasure related to food intake. As ageusia and anosmia make characterization of food difficult, being able to recognize and memorize its flavour was important to engage in consumption. Under normal circumstances, the hedonic value of food relies predominantly on the flavour of foods. When suffering from chemosensory dysfunction, shifting focus towards the texture of food, including trigeminal stimulation during consumption, were beneficial for maintaining appetite and food-related pleasure. Furthermore, a focus on the holistic satisfying feelings of choosing healthy food, as well as a focus on other people’s enjoyment during meals were reported to boost well-being around food intake. The study elaborated our understanding of the complex consequences of COVID-19, and can be applied in health promoting initiatives targeted patients recovering from COVID-19.

scholarly journals “Mummy, Can I Join a Sports Club?” A Qualitative Study on the Impact of Health-Promoting Schools on Health Behaviours in the Home Setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12219
Author(s):  
Marla T. H. Hahnraths ◽  
Maartje Willeboordse ◽  
Annick D. H. M. Jungbauer ◽  
Corina de Gier ◽  
Carlien Schouten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
School Based ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Information regarding school-based health-promoting interventions’ potential effects in the home environment is scarce. Gaining more insight into this is vital to optimise interventions’ potential. The Healthy Primary School of the Future (HPSF) is a Dutch initiative aiming to improve children’s health and well-being by providing daily physical activity sessions and healthy school lunches. This qualitative study examines if and how HPSF influenced children’s and parents’ physical activity and dietary behaviours at home. In 2018–2019, 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents from two HPSFs. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were coded and interpreted through thematic analysis. HPSF resulted in various behavioural changes at home, initiated by both children and parents. Parents reported improvements in healthy behaviours, as well as compensatory, unhealthy behaviours. Reasons for behavioural change included increased awareness, perceived support to adopt healthy behaviours, and children asking for the same healthy products at home. Barriers to change included no perceived necessity for change, lack of HPSF-related information provision, and time and financial constraints. Both child-to-adult intergenerational learning and parent-initiated changes play an important role in the transfer of health behaviours from school to home and are therefore key mechanisms to maximise school-based health-promoting interventions’ impact.

scholarly journals Motivating students for physical activity: What can we learn from student perspectives?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1356336X2097021
Author(s):  
Gwendolijn MM Boonekamp ◽  
John AJ Dierx ◽  
Erik Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Student Perspectives ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Unique Method ◽  
Health Promoting

Regular physical activity (PA) contributes to lifelong health and well-being. Adolescents in the Netherlands do not engage in sufficient PA, leading to serious health risks. The purpose of this study is to inform PA-enhancing strategies. This paper offers a unique method for analysing students’ perspectives about opportunities for PA in their school environments. The research method combines two approaches: a Health Promoting Schools (HPS) approach, which supports children’s development by using the school setting to promote PA, and a salutogenic approach, which engages all students in dialogue and reflection to identify factors or ‘assets’ that enhance their PA. Ninety-three students aged 12–14 from four secondary pre-vocational education schools participated in two group sessions in which the structured interview matrix and photovoice methods were employed. In these sessions, the students interacted with each other about four asset categories: talents, passions, the social environment and the physical environment. Thematic analyses of their dialogues led to three main insights: (a) students must perceive the activities as meaningful, appealing, contextually possible and manageable; (b) they use a wide variety of reasoning processes when deciding whether to engage in PA; and (c) it is valuable to invite students to share their individual perspectives on assets related to PA. All these aspects connect to the goals of both HPS and salutogenesis. We conclude that shifting the focus towards developing school-based interventions that build on student perspectives and active participation provides students with realistic opportunities for shaping PA and motivates them to be more physically active.

The sensitivity of the draw and write technique

2002 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saoirse Nic Gabhainn ◽  
Cecily Kelleher
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviours ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
School Based ◽  
Health Promoting Schools ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Primary School Pupils

This paper presents comparative data from two evaluations which employed the draw and write technique to collect data from primary school pupils (ages eight to ten years). Pupils from health promoting schools and schools with conventional health education classes were significantly more likely to draw pictures across a range of categories than pupils who had received no health education, but these varied significantly by the type of intervention. Pupils from health promoting schools drew more pictures illustrating relationships, play, rest and work, while those who had been exposed to traditional health education were more likely to draw pictures showing individual lifestyle behaviours. This implies that the draw and write technique is sensitive to differences in approach to health education within schools. A number of gender differences emerged which also supported this interpretation. This research also suggests that this technique is sensitive to the influence of school based health initiatives and is a useful tool for assessing such developments.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of the Policies, Opportunities, Initiatives and Notable Topics (POINTS) Audit for Campuses and Worksites

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Horacek ◽  
Marlei Simon ◽  
Elif Dede Yildirim ◽  
Adrienne White ◽  
Karla Shelnutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Testing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Expert Review ◽  
Student Focus ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Employee Focus ◽  
Development And Validation

Background: Workplace or campus wellness/obesity-prevention policies and initiatives can improve health. Research tools to assess worksite or campus policies/initiatives are scarce. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop and validate the policies, opportunities, initiatives, and notable topics (POINTS) audit. Methods: POINTS was developed and refined via expert review, pilot-testing, and field testing. Trained researchers completed a web-based review from a student-focus or employee-focus regarding 34 health-promoting topics for colleges. Each topic was evaluated on a 0–2 scale: 0 = no policy/initiative, 1 = initiatives, 2 = written policy. When a written policy was detected, additional policy support questions (administered, monitored, reviewed) were completed. Results: Cronbach’s Alpha for the student-focused POINTS audit was α = 0.787 (34 items, possible points = 65), and for the employee-focused POINTS audit was α = 0.807 (26 items, possible points = 50). A total of 115 student-focused and 33 employee-focused audits were completed. Although there was little evidence of policy presence beyond stimulant standards (smoking and alcohol), there were extensive examples of health initiatives. The student-focused POINTS audit was validated using the Healthier Campus Initiative’s survey. Conclusions: POINTS is a web-based audit tool that is valid and useful for pre-assessment, advocacy, benchmarking, and tracking policies for health and well-being for students (campus) and employees (worksite).

Comparing The Principalship of Madrasah and Sekolah in The Decentralization Era

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 24-35
Author(s):  
Saefudin A Safi'i
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
New Order ◽  
The Public ◽  
Centralized Management ◽  
Decentralization Policy

The downfall of the New Order Regime in 1998 brought about significant change to Indonesia’s public sector.  Law number 22 of 1999, further refined by Law 32 of 2004, provide legal bases for district governments to administer the public sector. The central government also introduces the notion of good governance through the promulgation of various regulations. For Madrasah however, decentralization policy failed to provide clear legal bases as to how it relates to district government. Law 32 of 2004 verse 10 article 3 retains the centralized management by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This however does not exclude Madrasah from public demand of implementing the principle of good governance. This study analyses the dynamics of principal-ship both in the Sekolah and the Madrasah in the era of decentralization. By comparing two research sites, this study sought to create better understanding about the context by which the organization climate of two different schools are shaped, and how principals and teachers perceives the notion of school leadership in the light of most recent policy development. To do this, interviews were undertaken and questionnaire-based data collection was also conducted. The study found that in the ground level implementation of decentralization policy, Sekolah developed more rigorous leadership compared to that in the Madrasah. This research recommends the adoption of stronger regulation regarding principal-ship of Madrasahs in order to create an environment that is more in tune with the spirit of public service reforms.

Prebiotic Carbohydrates for Therapeutics.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renuka Basavaiah ◽  
Prapulla Siddalingaiya Gurudutt
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Bacterial Infection ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intestinal Disease ◽  
Mineral Absorption ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Insulin Dependent

: The food industry is constantly shifting focus based on prebiotics as health-promoting substrates rather than just food supplements. A prebiotic is ‘‘a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora that confers benefits upon host well-being and health.” Prebiotics exert a plethora of health-promoting effects, which has lead to the establishment of multimillion food and pharma industries. The following are the health benefits attributed to prebiotics: mineral absorption, better immune response, increased resistance to bacterial infection, improved lipid metabolism, possible protection against cancer, relief from poor digestion of lactose, and reduction in the risk of diseases such as intestinal disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, obesity and allergy. Numerous studies in both animals and humans have demonstrated the health benefits of prebiotics.

Decolonising the health and well-being of Aboriginal men in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Prehn ◽  
Douglas Ezzy
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
State Government ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Adventure Therapy ◽  
Male Health ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Effective Models

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men have the worst health of any group in Australia. Despite this, relevant policies do not specifically explain how the issue will be improved. Existing research demonstrates the complexity of the problems facing Australian Indigenous men. The intersection of masculinity and Indigeneity, compounded by colonisation, historical policies, stigma, marginalisation, trauma, grief and loss of identity are key factors that shape these poor health outcomes. These outcomes are acknowledged in federal and some state government policies but not implemented. The article argues for a holistic and decolonised approach to Australian Aboriginal men’s health. Effective models of intervention to improve men’s health outcomes include men’s health clinics, men’s groups, Men’s Sheds, men’s health camps/bush adventure therapy, fathering groups and mentoring programs. Further research needs to be undertaken, with a greater emphasis on preventative health measures, adequate specific funding, culturally and gender appropriate responses to health, and government policy development and implementation covering Aboriginal male health.

scholarly journals Contested Daily Routines, Contested Care. Children with Type 1 Diabetes in Covid-19 Times

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melike Şahinol ◽  
Gülşah Başkavak
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Continuous Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Solvable Problem ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
Depth Interviews

AbstractThe conventional treatment of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is especially demanding for children, both physically and psychologically (Iversen et al. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being,13(1), 1487758, 2018). Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGM) are an important aid for children and their families in dealing with the disease. In their work, however, Şahinol and Başkavak (2020) point out that CGM carry the risk of viewing T1D as a technologically solvable problem instead of considering the disease as a whole. This is mainly creating confidence in technology due to CGM experiences while neglecting significant dietary measures and exercises needed to be integrated into daily routines. During the current pandemic, this problem seems to take on a whole new level. Based on two periods of in-depth interviews and observations conducted with 8 families with T1D children aged 6 to 14 living in Istanbul and Ankara (Turkey) from May to November 2019 and again from May to June 2020, we compare and focus on the experiences prior to and during the pandemic time. We argue that despite the possibility of technological regulation of the disease, the vulnerability of children is increased and, more than ever, depends on socio-bio-technical entanglements.

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