Urban health then and now, a reflection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silje Kristin Nygård ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Health Function

‘‘Urban health then and now, a reflection (Physiotherapist, 15.03.2150)’ takes its starting point in the development of human settlements and population throughout history. On this basis, it envisions a future in which a shift to greener urban cities has led to various improvements in people’s health and social conditions, both globally and locally. As more and more people are living in cities and the greening of cities is underway, this vision and its exploration all but a fantasy. With added collaboration from health professionals, urban planning and design could support the creation of even more green spaces and greener buildings, leading to cleaner air, more physical activity, natural insulation of homes, carbon sequestration, local food production, increased biodiversity and ultimately, a time with more social cohesion and healthier and happier people. By never loosing focus of people’s health, function and physical activity, it reminds us that it might not be wholesale change that is at stake, but that a broadening of our professional identity, roles and responsibilities could contribute more broadly than we have thought so far.

scholarly journals The Progressive Effects of Built Environments on Supporting Physical Activity Diversity in High-Density Areas: A Case Study in Shenzhen, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Kun Liu ◽  
Peiling Zhou ◽  
Hongkun Xie
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
High Density ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
City Development ◽  
Healthy City ◽  
Urban Forms ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Urban Planning And Design

Abstract Background: Physical activity diversity (PAD) is an essential indicator to present the vitality of health city, and how to improve PAD from the built environment perspective is a key issue for healthy urban planning and design, especially in high-density cities; Methods: This study selected Shenzhen, China as a representative case, combined the diversity of PA participants, types and occurrence times for the comprehensive understanding of PAD, fully used multiple source data for the measurement and statistical analysis of PAD and built environments, to discover the relationships between the built environment and PAD, and to explore the different effects in clustered and sprawled high-density urban forms; Results: PAD was unevenly distributed in Shenzhen, higher in the clustered areas and lower in the sprawled ares and the effects of the built environment on PAD were significantly different between two kinds of areas; Conclusions: the built environment supports PAD by progressive effects, in which accessibility is the necessary and funda-mental condition to activate individual PAs, inclusiveness is sufficiently supports the coaction of various kind of PAs to consolidate PAD, and landscape attractiveness furtherly aggregates more PAs to achieve higher PAD. To create accessible, inclusive, and attractive built environments are crucial ways to improve the vitality of healthy city development in high-density cities.

scholarly journals Soluciones basadas en la Naturaleza: estrategias urbanas para la adaptación al cambio climático.

2021 ◽  
pp. 243-262
Author(s):  
Raquel Rey Mellado ◽  
María Teresa Franchini Alonso ◽  
Cristina del Pozo Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change ◽  
Water Vegetation

Cities will suffer the impacts of climate change in the next decades. These impacts will be different according to their geographical features, the distribution and number of green spaces, the characteristics of the exterior surfaces of their floors and the density of population, among other aspects. Given this situation, many cities have begun to adopt adaptation strategies to reduce their vulnerability to the adverse effects of the climate; among which Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) stand out, which respond to ecosystem services and climate challenges, and are classified from the main ecosystems in which they affect: water, vegetation and soil. Within this context, the interest of the SBN in the international field is analyzed and the adaptation measures included in urban strategies developed to respond to this task are reviewed. The review of interventions in cities of the Mediterranean area makes it possible to value the usefulness of the NBS for urban planning and design.

scholarly journals Prishtina: Urban Health Related to Air Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 294-309
Author(s):  
Bujar Bajçinovci ◽  
Mejreme Bajçinovci
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Objectives

AbstractUrban health planning is a process with a primary role to protect communities and to use the environment sustainably. In relation to sustainability, the implementation of law reinforcement, urban planning and design can significantly improve the quality of life, particularly in relation to air pollution. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage every activity related to the functioning of a city, which would minimize air pollution. The empirical and conceptual findings from this research propose the necessity of careful driven urban health solutions, derived from power plants and heavy city traffic, regarding the gasoline-diesel powered automobiles which are not supportive to the urban, economic and health objectives. Prishtina, like other cities, must reconsider implementation of a strategy for healing urban health, helped by new developed technologies and environmental focused activities.

Effects of green space on walking: Does size, shape and density matter?

Urban Studies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (16) ◽  
pp. 3402-3420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohu Zhang ◽  
Scott Melbourne ◽  
Chinmoy Sarkar ◽  
Alain Chiaradia ◽  
Chris Webster
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Travel Demand ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Ordnance Survey ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Walking Activity ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Density Matter

The role of the built environment in improving public health through fostering physical activity has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. This study investigates relationships between walking activity and the configuration of green spaces in Greater London. Pedestrian activity for N = 54,910 walking trip stages is gathered through the London Travel Demand Survey (LTDS), with routes between origin and destination mapped onto the street network from the Integrated Transport Network of Ordnance Survey. Green spaces were extracted from UKMap and agglomerated to form London’s hundreds of parks. Regressions of pedestrian activity on park configuration, controlling for built environment metrics, revealed that catchments around smaller parks have more walking trips. Irregularity of park shape has the opposite effect. Park density, measured as number of parks inside a catchment, is insignificant in regression. Parks adjacent to retail areas were associated with pronounced increases in walking. The study contributes to landscape, urban management, environmental policy and urban planning and design literature. The evidence provides implications for performance-oriented policy and design decisions that configure a city’s green spaces to improve citizens’ public health through enhancing walkability.

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation on Planning Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 631-632 ◽  
pp. 1312-1319
Author(s):  
Hao Wu ◽  
Zheng Hong Peng
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Dynamic Visualization ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Model ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Analysis Models

In contrast to China’s rapid urbanization, the development of urban planning technologies remained relatively lagged behind. By taking quantitative analysis urban planning as a starting point, the research discusses the scope and content of planning at various levels as well as the possibility of data acquisition so as to choose the applicable planning analysis models. Agent-based modeling (ABM) has become an important subject recently in urban planning due to its top-down approach. This study discusses the building of a analysis Agent-based model for urban planning and design in a bid to provide direct and visual method for planning practices. We built a planning model with the software Repast S which was proved being useful in escaping green space planning. From running this Agent model the dynamic visualization of disaster evacuation process could be simulated.

Physical activity promotion in primary health care in Slovenia

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Graduate Nurses ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

In Slovenia, the role of general practitioners in counselling physical activity for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well recognized. The role of general practitioners in advising healthy lifestyle for individuals who are at risk of developing CVD is formally defined in the National Program for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, which has been running since 2001. Part of the program is counselling on healthy lifestyle including physical activity, performed in all health centres across the country. First a screening and medical examination is performed. In case of higher risk for CVD (>20%) the physician should give advice on the particular risk factor and direct patients to health-education centres, where they can participate in healthy lifestyle workshops lead by health professionals. Physicians and other health professionals who are involved in the implementation of prevention activities within the program need knowledge and skills that are crucial for successful counselling on healthy lifestyle. The educational program “basic education in health promotion and prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in primary health care/family medicine” consists of two parts. The first part of the training is open to all health professionals working within the program. The second part is intended for health professionals working in health-education workshops. In the last few years a new family practice model has been introduced and disseminated. Some duties of the family physician, including health promotion and counselling, are being transferred to graduate nurses who become part of the family practice team. This new division of work undoubtedly brings many advantages, both in terms of the work organization, and of high-quality patient care. Nevertheless preventive action cannot be fully passed on to graduate nurses. Careful planning and education are needed to ensure a comprehensive approach in healthy life style counselling.

Experiences in physical activity promotion in health care settings for primary prevention in the UK

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Randomised Controlled

In addition to the delivery of primary care services, recent changes to the NHS in the United Kingdom have placed increasing responsibility on GPs for the commissioning of the full range of health services from prevention through to clinical interventions and rehabilitation. Whilst historically there has always been an expectation that primary care professionals were ideally placed to provide support for prevention as well as treatment, their active engagement in the promotion of physical activity has remained largely superficial. With notable exceptions where individuals have a personal interest or commitment, the majority of health professionals tend to limit themselves to peremptory non-specific advice at best, or frequently don’t broach the subject at all. There are a number of reasons for this including increasing time pressures, a general lack of knowledge, limited evidence and concerns about litigation in the event of an adverse exercise induced event. However in the 1990s there was a surge of interest in the emerging “Exercise on Prescription” model where patients could be referred to community based exercise instructors for a structured “prescription” of exercise in community leisure centres. Despite the continuing popularity of the model there remain problems particularly in getting the active support of health professionals who generally cite the same barriers as previously identified. In an attempt to overcome some of these problems Wales established a national exercise referral scheme with an associated randomised controlled trial. The scheme evaluated well and had subsequently evolved with new developments including integration with secondary and tertiary care pathways, accredited training for exercise instructors and exit routes into alternative community based exercise opportunities.

scholarly journals AB0912-HPR AMIGOS DE FIBRO (FIBRO FRIENDS): EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH FIBROMYALGIA IN BRAZIL

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1478.1-1478
Author(s):  
M. Antunes ◽  
A. Schmitt ◽  
A. Pasqual Marques
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Primary Health

Background:Health education is pointed out as the front line in non-pharmacological approaches in fibromyalgia.Objectives:To develop an interdisciplinary educational program to promote the health of individuals with fibromyalgia in Brazil.Methods:This is a qualitative study, through a focus group, carried out in a Basic Health Unit in the city of São Paulo, SP. The guiding questions were about the needs and demands exposed by patients with fibromyalgia and health professionals who work in primary health care. 12 individuals with fibromyalgia and 10 health professionals participated. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method proposed by Bardin, specifically the thematic content analysis.Results:Amigos de Fibro (Fibro Friends) should be conducted through lectures, dynamics and conversation circles. The educational program must include 15 meetings with weekly frequency. The meetings are: 1st to present the program and socialization activities. 2nd: Doctor presents the concepts of fibromyalgia. 3rd: Nurse informs about practices and environments that favor self-care. 4th: Social Worker shows the importance of support. 5th: Physiotherapist shows the main body practices and physical activity. 6th: Nutritionist presents an adequate and healthy diet. 7: Psychologist shows mental health practices. 8th: Pharmacist informs about medicines. 9, 11 and 13: participants perform activities at home. 10: Naturologist presents integrative and complementary practices. 12th: Occupational Therapist encourages methods to save energy. Day 14: Speech therapist helps in the quality of sleep. 15: closing activity.Conclusion:Amigos de Fibro is a program that presents interdisciplinary educational information for individuals with fibromyalgia, being considered a trend of care for the future. The next step is to conduct a clinical trial to verify the effect of this intervention and then implement it in the health service in Brazil. Fibro Friends was created from the conjunct action of patients and healthcare professionals, it can be an effective educational tool to be implemented at primary health attention centers, promoting the self-care, life quality and the promotion of health in individuals with Fibromyalgia. Fibro Friends is an excellent tool for patient education and counseling in Brazil.References:[1]Antunes M, Ferreira A, Oliveira D, Júnior JN, Bertolini S, Marques AP. There is association between the level of physical activity and quality of life of women with fibromyalgia?. Annals of rheumatic diseases. 2019;78(2)650-1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-eular.2835.[2]García-Ríos MC, Navarro-Ledesma S, Tapia-Haro RM, Toledano-Moreno S, Casas-Barragán A, Correa-Rodríguez M et al. Effectiveness of health education in patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 2019;55(2):301-13. https://doi.org/10.23736/S1973-9087.19.05524-2.[3]Oliveira DV, Ferreira AAM, Oliveira DCD, Leme DEDC, Antunes MD, Nascimento Júnior JRAD. Association of the practice of physical activity and of health status on the quality of life of women with fibromyalgia. Journal of Physical Education. 2019;30(1): e3027. https://doi.org/10.4025/jphyseduc.v30i1.3027.[4]Stuifbergen AK, Blozis SA, Becker H, Phillips L, Timmerman G, Kullberg V, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a wellness intervention for women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2010;24(4):305-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215509343247.Acknowledgements:This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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