scholarly journals Marginalized Males, Disparate COVID-19 Outcomes, and Health Equity: A Profile of Highest Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 155798832110505
Author(s):  
Tyler Barnhart ◽  
Michael J. Rovito ◽  
Michael Maresca ◽  
Kathy Rovito
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Direct Response ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Risk Communities ◽  
Insight Into

This paper is a direct response to Smith et al.’s (2020) call for more insight into health equity concerns pertaining to COVID-19 outcomes. The goal of this discussion is to offer the field with an evidence-informed ‘avatar’ representing the most-impacted group as it pertains to COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. Policy and practice implications are offered as a call to action for public health professionals to support these most impacted and highest risk communities.

scholarly journals DISCOURSE ON PROFESSIONALISATION IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 274-293
Author(s):  
Birutė Anužienė ◽  
Sigute Norkiene ◽  
Marina Varopjeva
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Health Specialist ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
Insight Into

This article is aimed to discuss findings of the study on professionalisation in the practice of public health professionals who provide services to persons of all ages with disabilities. The following problematic questions are raised: how does a public health specialist become a professional competent in providing their services to all citizens, regardless of age or health status? What are the possible professionalisation ways and opportunities for public health professionals who provide services to persons of different age with disabilities? The article presents a theoretical discourse of the professionalisation process, as well as results of the qualitative research so as to provide insight into possible ways (opportunities) for professionalisation of public health professionals in providing services to persons of different ages with disabilities. The study is novel in that it discloses dimensions (professionalism and professionism) of a public health specialist’s professionalisation process in working with persons of different ages with disabilities. As findings of the study show, the dimensions are theoretically inseparable from each other, though, with quite different ways of professionalisation in practice. The study has established that the ways of professionalisation (1.Work-based learning; 2.Reflection and activities; 3.Reflection on activities (formalisation of unexpressed competencies); 4.Reflection for activities; 5.Organisational culture and activities; 6.Integration/assimilation of knowledge) enable a person to develop existing competencies, to construct a professional identity through the integration of both aspects of relevance of professionalisation ways: practical activities and reflection. 

Monitoring knowledge translation and the impact of HI in European countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Delnord ◽  
L A Abboud ◽  
H Van Oyen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Impact Index ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background National health information systems (NHIS) report on the health of populations, the determinants of health and service use within countries. Thus far, the evaluation of HIS has largely focused on data production, and less on their impact in policy and practice. This entails that there is no standardized framework for monitoring the uptake of Health Information (HI) in the healthcare system. Methods An international Delphi with public health professionals and policy makers allowed reaching agreement on criteria for monitoring the impact of NHIS, based on four domains: (a) Health information Evidence Quality, (b) HIS Responsiveness, (c) Stakeholder Engagement, and (d) Knowledge Integration. Next, we pretested the Index among participating countries in the European Joint Action on Health Information. Results Over 130 public health professionals and policy-makers from 38 countries participated in the Delphi. The panel reached agreement on 30 criteria to monitor the impact of HIS in policy and practice; these constitute the HI-Impact Index. Eight countries participated in pretesting the HI-Impact Index. InfAct country representative found the HIS evaluation tool user friendly and the time needed to fill the evaluation acceptable. They noted however the need to refine the auditing guidelines further as to who shall be responsible for conducting the evaluation (i.e. multistakeholder evaluation vs. single governing body), and which type of population health data sources should be included as part of the evaluation. Conclusions Knowledge translation facilitates the implementation of practices that will benefit population health and well-being. The HI-Impact Index addresses a growing demand for more transparency and accountability in the use of HI and scientific evidence within countries. Next steps consist in further piloting the HI-Impact Index for use in specific health areas (i.e. maternal and child health, cancer, antimicrobial resistance).

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.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Education for Public Health: A Practical Foundation for Solidarity

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perkiö ◽  
R Harrison ◽  
M Grivna ◽  
D Tao ◽  
C Evashwich
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Abstract Education is a key to creating solidary among the professionals who advance public health’s interdisciplinary mission. Our assumption is that if all those who work in public health shared core knowledge and the skills for interdisciplinary interaction, collaboration across disciplines, venues, and countries would be facilitated. Evaluation of education is an essential element of pedagogy to ensure quality and consistency across boundaries, as articulated by the UNESCO education standards. Our study examined the evaluation studies done by programs that educate public health professionals. We searched the peer reviewed literature published in English between 2000-2017 pertaining to the education of the public health workforce at a degree-granting level. The 2442 articles found covered ten health professions disciplines and had lead authors representing all continents. Only 86 articles focused on evaluation. The majority of the papers examined either a single course, a discipline-specific curriculum or a teaching method. No consistent methodologies could be discerned. Methods ranged from sophisticated regression analyses and trends tracked over time to descriptions of focus groups and interviews of small samples. We found that evaluations were primarily discipline-specific, lacked rigorous methodology in many instances, and that relatively few examined competencies or career expectations. The public health workforce enjoys a diversity of disciplines but must be able to come together to share diverse knowledge and skills. Evaluation is critical to achieving a workforce that is well trained in the competencies pertinent to collaboration. This study informs the pedagogical challenges that must be confronted going forward, starting with a commitment to shared core competencies and to consistent and rigorous evaluation of the education related to training public health professionals. Key messages Rigorous evaluation is not sufficiently used to enhance the quality of public health education. More frequent use of rigorous evaluation in public health education would enhance the quality of public health workforce, and enable cross-disciplinary and international collaboration for solidarity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document