scholarly journals Competing for space in an already crowded market: a mixed methods study of why an online community of practice (CoP) for alcohol harm reduction failed to generate interest amongst the group of public health professionals at which it was aimed

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Ponsford ◽  
Jennifer Ford ◽  
Helena Korjonen ◽  
Emma Hughes ◽  
Asha Keswani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Online Community Of Practice ◽  
Alcohol Harm Reduction

scholarly journals Intervention intended to improve public health professionals’ self-efficacy in their efforts to detect and manage perinatal depressive symptoms among Thai women: a mixed-methods study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitikorn Phoosuwan ◽  
Pranee C. Lundberg ◽  
Sadiporn Phuthomdee ◽  
Leif Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Perinatal Depressive Symptoms

Abstract Background Targeting perinatal depressive symptoms among women can reduce premature mortality. However, public health professionals (PHPs) in primary healthcare settings often have low self-efficacy for detection and management of perinatal depressive symptoms among women. This mixed-methods study was aimed at developing and evaluating a self-efficacy improvement programme (SIP) intended to increase PHPs’ self-efficacy in efforts to detect and manage perinatal depressive symptoms. Methods The SIP consisted of 1 day of theory and 4 weeks of practice. Sixty-six PHPs from sub-district health promotion hospitals (primary health care level) in Sakonnakhon, a north-eastern province in Thailand, were randomised into an intervention group (n = 33) and a control group (n = 33). Twenty-three of the intervention group participants also took part in focus group discussions (FGDs). Multiple linear regression and qualitative content analysis were used to analyse the data. Results After the SIP, the intervention group participants had higher self-efficacy score than those in the control group (p = 0.004). The FGDs resulted in four categories emerging: Having confidence, Changing knowledge and attitudes, Increasing perception of an important role, and Increasing awareness of performed function. Conclusions To enhance the ability of PHPs to detect and manage perinatal depressive symptoms, an intervention programme based on self-efficacy modification is recommended.

scholarly journals Healthy public policy competences for public health: interactive and practice-oriented curriculum

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Guyon ◽  
R Lessard ◽  
M Masse-Jolicoeur ◽  
S Tessier
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Organizational Practices ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Healthy Public Policy ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Public Health Staff

Abstract Background Developing and implementing healthy public policy (HPP) is one of the practical competences expected of public health professionals in Europe and beyond (ASPHER 2018, Public Health Agency of Canada 2015, US Public Health Foundation 2014). Yet, organizational practices in building public health capacity to promote HPP are seldom documented. In order to improve its HPP interventions, the Montreal Public Health Unit has been leading and evaluating a HPP multidisciplinary community of practice since 2014. In response to participants’ requests, we recently formalized a HPP curriculum. Objectives Over a period of 12 months in 2018-2019, our objectives were to: (1) develop and pre-test a competency-based professional development curriculum in HPP for public health staff and interns (2) provide a repository of relevant references (3) identify dynamic pedagogical strategies applicable to a community of practice. Results As community of practice members and facilitators, we developed a HPP curriculum with the support of pedagogical and HPP experts. It was pre-tested and iteratively adjusted with members of the community of practice. We drew content from various disciplines including political sciences, public health, communication studies and public relations. We identified relevant: (1) competences; (2) core concepts; (3) practical skills; (4) key references; (5) practical case studies, (6) interactive pedagogical strategies such as an open-source online learning system. Conclusions We developed an innovative healthy public policy (HPP) curriculum in order to support an existing community of practice among public health staff. Dynamic pedagogical strategies and a more formal HPP curriculum can support competence development among public health staff, and this can be achieved while relying mostly on in-house expertise. This constitutes a stimulating capacity-building initiative for the enhancement of public health core competences. Key messages Developing healthy public policy is a core practical competence expected of public health professionals. Yet, organizational practices in building healthy public policy capacity are seldom documented. Developing dynamic pedagogical strategies and a more formal healthy public policy curriculum can support competence development among public health staff, while relying mostly on in-house expertise.

Knowledge and Practice of Harm Reduction Strategies Among People Who Report Frequent Cannabis Use

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica S. Kruger ◽  
Daniel Kruger ◽  
R. Lorraine Collins
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Reduction Techniques ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Knowledge And Practice

We examined knowledge and practice of harm reduction strategies among people who use cannabis attending an annual public cannabis advocacy event. We also assessed the sources from which they glean information about cannabis. Participants ( n = 472) completed a brief survey assessing cannabis use, sources for information on cannabis, and harm reduction strategies. Participants’ knowledge of cannabis was based mostly on their own experiments and experiences rather than on information from health professionals. Participants generally had low accuracy in identifying effective harm reduction techniques and low rates of utilizing effective harm reduction techniques, using them at the same rate overall as techniques without empirical support. Results from this survey will be useful to public health professionals developing and implementing harm reduction educational strategies related to cannabis use.

scholarly journals A Compassionate Framework for Reducing Harm in Public Health Higher Education: Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 237337992095484
Author(s):  
Jessica G. Burke ◽  
James E. Egan ◽  
Robert W. S. Coulter ◽  
Shannon Mitchell ◽  
Abisola Olaniyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Student Teacher Relationship ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Key Points

We believe a harm reduction framework offers guidance for managing the student-teacher relationship in pandemic situations. This commentary defines the six principles of harm reduction (humanism, pragmatism, individualism, autonomy, incrementalism, and accountability without termination) and describes how these principles can be applied within the public health higher educational system in the COVID-19 era. The key points are intended to stimulate thought and discussion about how to balance general uncertainty, concerns about what is best for population and personal health, the tensions between collectivism and individualism, and our commitment to training and protecting the health of the next generation of public health professionals. We recommend that educators, in public health and other higher education settings, use the harm reduction principles to guide their interactions with students and to build more compassionate and collectivist communities that allow people to learn and thrive.

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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