scholarly journals The Regeneration of Urban Blue Spaces: A Public Health Intervention? Reviewing the Evidence

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Brückner ◽  
Timo Falkenberg ◽  
Christine Heinzel ◽  
Thomas Kistemann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Funding Sources

Research in recent years has demonstrated that urban surface waters (“urban blue spaces”) can provide beneficial effects on human health and wellbeing. Despite blue spaces prevailing on urban development agendas across the world, little investigation has been done whether and how the regeneration of such spaces is used as a (community-based) public health intervention. Therefore, a review was conducted to analyze urban blue space regeneration projects in terms of their significance for public health. Results show that the regeneration of urban blue spaces displays a diversity of intervention types and follows certain development trends seen in general urban regeneration: Similarities mainly arise in relation to objectives (multi-dimensional goals with increasing focus on environmental sustainability and economic interests), stakeholders (shift to multi-actor governance with a rise of partnerships and community participation), and funding (prevalence of mixed financial schemes and increasing reliance on external funding sources). Although threefold public health effects have been noted across the projects (i. behavioral changes toward healthier lifestyles, ii. healthier urban environments, iii. health policy changes), results of this review indicate that the potential to use urban blue regeneration as a community-based health intervention has yet to be realized.

Measuring the Efficacy of a Pilot Public Health Intervention for Engaging Communities of Puerto Rico to Rapidly Write Hurricane Protection Plans

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Mark E. Keim ◽  
Laura A. Runnels ◽  
Alexander P. Lovallo ◽  
Margarita Pagan Medina ◽  
Eduardo Roman Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Puerto Rico ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
National Guard ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Project Work ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based

Abstract Objective: The efficacy is measured for a public health intervention related to community-based planning for population protection measures (PPMs; ie, shelter-in-place and evacuation). Design: This is a mixed (qualitative and quantitative) prospective study of intervention efficacy, measured in terms of usability related to effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, and degree of community engagement. Setting: Two municipalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are included. Participants: Community members consisting of individuals; traditional leaders; federal, territorial, and municipal emergency managers; municipal mayors; National Guard; territorial departments of education, health, housing, public works, and transportation; health care; police; Emergency Medical Services; faith-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); and the private sector. Intervention: The intervention included four community convenings: one for risk communication; two for plan-writing; and one tabletop exercise (TTX). This study analyzed data collected from the project work plan; participant rosters; participant surveys; workshop outputs; and focus group interviews. Main Outcome Measures: Efficacy was measured in terms of ISO 9241-11, an international standard for usability that includes effectiveness, efficiency, user satisfaction, and “freedom from risk” among users. Degree of engagement was considered an indicator of “freedom from risk,” measurable through workshop attendance. Results: Two separate communities drafted and exercised ~60-page-long population protection plans, each within 14.5 hours. Plan-writing workshops completed 100% of plan objectives and activities. Efficiency rates were nearly the same in both communities. Interviews and surveys indicated high degrees of community satisfaction. Engagement was consistent among community members and variable among governmental officials. Conclusions: Frontline communities have successfully demonstrated the ability to understand the environmental health hazards in their own community; rapidly write consensus-based plans for PPMs; participate in an objective-based TTX; and perform these activities in a bi-lingual setting. This intervention appears to be efficacious for public use in the rapid development of community-based PPMs.

scholarly journals Evaluating a community-based public health intervention using a complex systems approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 606-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Matheson ◽  
Mat Walton ◽  
Rebecca Gray ◽  
Kirstin Lindberg ◽  
Mathu Shanthakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Community Based

scholarly journals Designing a Gardening Intervention to Improve Health: Recommendations From New and Experienced Gardeners

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 153-153
Author(s):  
Moriah Lukasik ◽  
Candace Bordner ◽  
Benjamin Watt ◽  
Young Ho ◽  
Susan Veldheer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Frequent Response ◽  
Vegetable Gardening ◽  
Potential Public Health

Abstract Objectives Gardeners consume more fruits and vegetables (F&V) and have lower body mass indexes (BMI) than non-gardeners, making gardening a potential public health intervention. Little is known about information needed to teach gardening skills to novice gardeners. This study investigated what never gardeners (NG) and experienced gardeners (EG) perceived as necessary information to teach gardening. Methods Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers responded to demographic and gardening questions via an online survey. After reviewing responses for completeness, 415 participants were included in the analysis. Participants were characterized by gardening experience level based on the total years they had gardened (0 years = NG, 1 + years = EG). In open ended questions, NG were asked: “What, if anything, would encourage you to start vegetable gardening?” and “What information do you think you would need to start a vegetable garden?” Experienced gardeners were asked “What information would be most important to teach someone who is new to vegetable gardening?” Qualitative responses were coded and the most frequent responses are presented. Results The overall sample had a mean age of 40 years, was 47% female, 80% white, and 68% with a college degree. There were 203 NG (48.9%) and 241 EG (51.1%). For reasons that would motivate NG to start a garden, the two most frequently indicated were, 1) having the space needed to start a garden (n = 33, 16%) or 2) if it would be a way to save money (20, 9.7%). For NGs the most frequently mentioned response to what information they would need to start vegetable gardening on their own was information regarding maintenance, such as sunlight, water, weeding, and spacing (n = 30, 14.8%). For EGs the most frequent response to what information would be most important to teach someone new to vegetable gardening, was also information related to maintenance such as, such as sunlight, water, weeding, and spacing (n = 41, 17%). Conclusions Gardening is a potential public health intervention that can influence health. Understanding space needs, costs of starting a garden, and knowing when to plant are key learning topics needed when developing these interventions for new gardeners. Future analyses will investigate the preferences and characteristics of those who would like to participate in an online versus an in-person gardening intervention. Funding Sources None.

Special Feature — Dengue

2005 ◽  
Vol 09 (22) ◽  
pp. 1185-1198
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Epidemic Modeling ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Dengue Control ◽  
Dengue Epidemic

Community-Based Dengue Control Program. Dengue: An Update. Dengue Epidemic Modeling: Stakes and Pitfalls. Dengue: Translating Scientific Progress into Public Health Intervention.

scholarly journals Evaluating a community-based public health intervention using a complex systems approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Matheson ◽  
M Walton ◽  
Rebecca Gray ◽  
K Lindberg ◽  
M Shanthakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
The Social

© The Author 2017. Background This article outlines the methods being used to evaluate a community-based public health intervention. This evaluation approach recognizes that not only is the intervention, Healthy Families NZ, complex, but the social systems within which it is being implemented are complex. Methods To address challenges related to complexity, we discuss three developing areas within evaluation theory and apply them to an evaluation case example. The example, Healthy Families NZ, aims to strengthen the prevention system in Aotearoa/New Zealand to prevent chronic disease in 10 different geographic areas. Central to the evaluation design is the comparative case method which recognizes that emergent outcomes are the result of 'configurations of causes'. 'Thick', mixed-data, case studies are developed, with each case considered a view of a complex system. Qualitative Comparative Analysis is the analytical approach used to systematically compare the cases over time. Conclusions This article describes an approach to evaluating a community-based public health intervention that considers the social systems in which the initiative is being implemented to be complex. The evaluation case example provides a unique opportunity to operationalize and test these methods, while extending their more frequent use within other fields to the field of public health.

scholarly journals Evaluating a community-based public health intervention using a complex systems approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Matheson ◽  
M Walton ◽  
Rebecca Gray ◽  
K Lindberg ◽  
M Shanthakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
The Social

© The Author 2017. Background This article outlines the methods being used to evaluate a community-based public health intervention. This evaluation approach recognizes that not only is the intervention, Healthy Families NZ, complex, but the social systems within which it is being implemented are complex. Methods To address challenges related to complexity, we discuss three developing areas within evaluation theory and apply them to an evaluation case example. The example, Healthy Families NZ, aims to strengthen the prevention system in Aotearoa/New Zealand to prevent chronic disease in 10 different geographic areas. Central to the evaluation design is the comparative case method which recognizes that emergent outcomes are the result of 'configurations of causes'. 'Thick', mixed-data, case studies are developed, with each case considered a view of a complex system. Qualitative Comparative Analysis is the analytical approach used to systematically compare the cases over time. Conclusions This article describes an approach to evaluating a community-based public health intervention that considers the social systems in which the initiative is being implemented to be complex. The evaluation case example provides a unique opportunity to operationalize and test these methods, while extending their more frequent use within other fields to the field of public health.

The Affective Politics of Karma among Buddhist Cancer Charities in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-62
Author(s):  
Sara Swenson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Existence ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Moral Failure ◽  
Cancer Rates ◽  
Charity Work

In this article, I explore how Buddhist charity workers in Vietnam interpret rising cancer rates through understandings of karma. Rather than framing cancer as a primarily physical or medical phenomenon, volunteers state that cancer is a product of collective moral failure. Corruption in public food production is both caused by and perpetuates bad karma, which negatively impacts global existence. Conversely, charity work creates merit, which can improve collective karma and benefit all living beings. I argue that through such interpretations of karma, Buddhist volunteers understand their charity at cancer hospitals as an affective and ethical form of public health intervention.

scholarly journals Comparison of the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea: Importance of early public health intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 742-745
Author(s):  
Hye Seong ◽  
Hak Jun Hyun ◽  
Jin Gu Yun ◽  
Ji Yun Noh ◽  
Hee Jin Cheong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention
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