scholarly journals The Role of the Health Coach in a Global Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 216495612110394
Author(s):  
Meg A Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Cultural Competencies ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Health Coaches ◽  
Professional Health ◽  
Public Health Initiatives

Background While medical teams were perplexed about the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission and impairment of organ systems and immune function, viral infections spread worldwide. Complex intersectional issues of co-morbidities coupled with marginalized, diverse ethnic/racial populations emerged as significant risks to contracting severe COVID-19. Objective Since a healthy lifestyle is fundamental for lowering risk to chronic diseases, public health initiatives to manage this and future pandemics should include strategies that assist individuals to improve health status through targeted behavior changes. This conceptual paper builds a case for certified professional health coaches as primary actors in future preventive strategies, with expanded skills in addressing social determinants of health and “next generational” cultural competencies. Methods This concept paper primarily synthesizes fast-tracked research in 2020 regarding the demographic impact of COVID-19, specifically those groups suffering the highest morbidity and mortality rates. Exploring these intersectional issues through a conceptual lens provides strategies for certified health coaches to contribute their expertise in behavioral change within the larger contextual settings of racial/ethnic disparities and social inequities. Results As the co-morbidities and other chronic conditions related to COVID-19 among individuals and families in low-income communities are worsened by dual forces (lifestyle/behavioral choices and ingrained structural inequities), adding the support of certified health coaches to build trust, provide more convenient access to address vaccine hesitancy, and dispell falsehoods, is an effective means for advancing health and wellbeing. Group coaching and one-on-one coaching can work in tandem with public health initiatives for reducing chronic disease burden and addressing social determinants of health (SDoH). Skills are identified in coaching SDoH with expanded cultural competencies for health coaches. Conclusion Certified professional health coaches can make a positive impact on general risk reduction of chronic diseases within ethnic/racial minorities, thereby supporting population health in facing future contagions with greater health resilience.

scholarly journals Social Determinants of Health and Epigenetics: A New Tool for Health Policy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitakshi Sehgal ◽  
William Toscano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Health Initiatives

Globally, humans are struggling with the double threat of communicable and non-communicable diseases, which are presenting new challenges to public health. Public health problems are generally studied and addressed at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Most effective results are seen with primary interventions. Public health is becoming more aware of the importance of environment-gene interactions in the ontology of health and disease using epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of altered gene expression without change in base pairs. Be it physical, social, behavioral, or economic factors; they all influence quality of life and health of individuals and populations. That environments are changing the human health phenotype and these changed phenotypes are heritable is of concern for the future of the human race. Knowing the causes of non-communicable human diseases using epigenetics will contribute to the development of new policies to encourage prevention using primary public health initiatives. Research and application of epigenetics shows great promise for improving population health. Continued advances in epigenetics will enhance how we understand and address the way environments are affecting the human health phenotype. For some time, health systems have been and continue to be tertiary in nature. Epigenetic changes can provide information necessary to better understand how social determinants of health can be used to build societies focused on equitable health for all people, rather than continuing to focus on treatment of diseases in the tertiary phase that leads to health disparities. Understanding mechanisms of social determinants of disease, will allow society to evolve in a health-oriented rather than a disease-oriented world. For this reason, we must enhance and apply epigenetics (physical, social, behavioral, economic) research to policy development. We will discuss how bringing social determinants together with biology can be used as new tools for public health policy.

scholarly journals Public Health capacities for action on the social determinants of health in Europe

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S van den Broucke ◽  
C Aluttis ◽  
K Michelsen ◽  
H Brand ◽  
C Chiotan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
The Social

A public health model of the social determinants of health

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid Ansari ◽  
Norman J. Carson ◽  
Michael J. Ackland ◽  
Loretta Vaughan ◽  
Adrian Serraglio
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Public Health Model ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Model

scholarly journals Aiming for Health Equity: The role of Public Health Policy and Primary Healthcare Comment on "Universal Health Coverage for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Burström
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases

This commentary refers to the article by Fisher et al on lessons from Australian primary healthcare (PHC), which highlights the role of PHC to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote health equity. This commentary discusses important elements and features when aiming for health equity, including going beyond the healthcare system and focusing on the social determinants of health in public health policies, in PHC and in the healthcare system as a whole, to reduce NCDs. A wider biopsychosocial view on health is needed, recognizing the importance of social determinants of health, and inequalities in health. Public funding and universal access to care are important prerequisites, but regulation is needed to ensure equitable access in practice. An example of a PHC reform in Sweden indicates that introducing market solutions in a publicly funded PHC system may not benefit those with greater needs and may reduce the impact of PHC on population health.

scholarly journals Addressing Social Needs in Health Care Settings: Evidence, Challenges, and Opportunities for Public Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Kreuter ◽  
Tess Thompson ◽  
Amy McQueen ◽  
Rachel Garg
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Health Care Settings

There has been an explosion of interest in addressing social needs in health care settings. Some efforts, such as screening patients for social needs and connecting them to needed social services, are already in widespread practice. These and other major investments from the health care sector hint at the potential for new multisector collaborations to address social determinants of health and individual social needs. This article discusses the rapidly growing body of research describing the links between social needs and health and the impact of social needs interventions on health improvement, utilization, and costs. We also identify gaps in the knowledge base and implementation challenges to be overcome. We conclude that complementary partnerships among the health care, public health, and social services sectors can build on current momentum to strengthen social safety net policies, modernize social services, and reshape resource allocation to address social determinants of health. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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