scholarly journals What are the elements of a whole system approach to community-centred public health? A qualitative study with public health leaders in England’s local authority areas

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Stansfield ◽  
Jane South ◽  
Tom Mapplethorpe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
System Approach ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Round Table Discussion ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Local Public Health

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to identify key elements of whole system approaches to building healthy communities and putting communities at the heart of public health with a focus on public health practice to reduce health inequalities.DesignA mixed-method qualitative study was undertaken. The primary method was semi-structured interviews with 17 public health leaders from 12 local areas. This was supplemented by a rapid review of literature, a survey of 342 members of the public via Public Health England’s (PHE) People’s Panel and a round-table discussion with 23 stakeholders.SettingLocal government in England.ResultsEleven elements of community-centred public health practice that constitute taking a whole system approach were identified. These were grouped into the headings of involving, strengthening, scaling and sustaining. The elements were underpinned by a set of values and principles.ConclusionLocal public health leaders are in a strong position to develop a whole system approach to reducing health inequalities that puts communities at its heart. The elements, values and principles summarise what a supportive infrastructure looks like and this could be further tested with other localities and communities as a framework for scaling community-centred public health.

scholarly journals Surveillance System Evaluations Provide Evidence to Improve Public Health Practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverley J. Paterson ◽  
David N. Durrheim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Surveillance Practice

Surveillance evaluations of surveillance systems should provide evidence to improve public health practice. In response to surveillance evaluation findings amongst Pacific Island Countries and Territories that identified a critical need to better equip local public health officials with skills to rapidly appropriately respond to suspected infectious disease outbreaks across the Pacific, the RAPID (Response and Analysis for Pacific Infectious Diseases) project was implemented to strengthen capacity in surveillance, epidemiology and outbreak response. The RAPID project is a notable example of how evidence gathered through a surveillance evaluation can be used to improve public health surveillance practice.

Driving Quality Improvement in Local Public Health Practice

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penney Berryman Davis ◽  
Jessica Solomon ◽  
Grace Gorenflo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Local Public Health

scholarly journals How can we support best practice? A situational assessment of injury prevention practice in public health.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Richmond ◽  
Sarah Carsley ◽  
Rachel Prowse ◽  
Heather Manson ◽  
Brent Moloughney
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
System Level ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Situational Assessment ◽  
Access To Data

Abstract Background : To effectively impact the significant population burden of injury, we completed a situational assessment of injury prevention practice within a provincial public health system to identify system-wide priorities for capacity-building to advance injury prevention in public health. Methods : Data was collected through semi-structured interviews (n=20) and focus groups (n=19). Participants included a cross-section of injury prevention practitioners and leadership from public health units reflecting different population sizes and geographic characteristics, in addition to public health researchers and experts from academia, public health and not-for-profit organizations. Thematic analysis was used to code all of the data by one reviewer, followed by a second independent reviewer who coded a random selection of interview notes. Major codes and sub codes were identified and final themes were decided through iterations of coding comparisons and categorization. Once data were analysed, we confirmed the findings with the field, in addition to participating in a prioritization exercise to surface the top three needs for support. Results : Major themes that emerged from the data included: current public health practice challenges; capacity and resource constraints, and; injury as a low priority area. Overall, injury prevention is a broad, complex topic that competes with other areas of public health. Best practices are challenged by system-wide factors related to resources, direction, coordination, collaboration, and emerging injury public health issues. Injury is a reportedly under prioritized and under resourced public health area of practice. Practitioners believe that increasing access to data and evidence, and improving collaboration and networking is required to promote best practice. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that there are several system level needs to support best practice in public health injury prevention in Ontario including reducing research to practice gaps and supporting opportunities for collaboration. Our research contributes to the literature of the complexity of public health practice, and presents several mechanisms of support to increase capacity at a system level to improve injury prevention practice, and eventually lessen the population burden of injury.

scholarly journals Example C: Using online respondent-driven detection for communicable disease control

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y B Helms ◽  
N Hamdiui ◽  
R Eilers ◽  
C J P A Hoebe ◽  
N Dukers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Questionnaire

Abstract Online respondent-driven detection (online-RDD) is a novel method of case-finding that may enhance contact tracing (CT). However, the opportunities and barriers of online-RDD for public health practice have not yet been investigated from the perspective of public health professionals (PHPs). Therefore, it is unclear what the potential strengths and limitations of online-RDD for CT are. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods research. First, we conducted semi-structured interviews with Dutch PHPs involved in CT. Questions were derived from the diffusion of innovations theory. Second, we distributed an online-questionnaire to 260 Dutch PHPs to study the main findings in a larger population. We used hypothetical scenario’s (scabies, shigella, and mumps) to elicit PHPs’ perceptions of online-RDD. Twelve interviews were held. Response rate to the online-questionnaire was 31% (n = 70). Four themes related to characteristics of online-RDD that influenced PHPs’ intention to adopt online-RDD emerged: advantages over traditional CT, task conflicts and opportunity costs, public health risks, and situational compatibility. PHPs believed online-RDD may enhance CT through increased reach, low-key communication options, and saving time. Limitations were foreseen in the delivery of measures, supporting patients and contacts, missing information and contacts, and causing unrest. Online-RDD may be particularly applicable in situations with digitally skilled and literate target populations, low urgency, low time-pressure, and a simple perspective for action. A majority of PHPs (70%) had a positive adoption intention towards online-RDD. PHPs perceived online-RDD as beneficial to public health practice. Further development of online-RDD should focus on facilitating opportunities for personal contact between PHPs, patients and contacts. A comparative study of ‘traditional’ CT and online-RDD could yield further insights in the potential of online-RDD for public health practice.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document