scholarly journals Practitioners’ Experiences of the Influence of Bonsai Art on Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2894
Author(s):  
Caroll Hermann ◽  
Stephen D Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Emotional Awareness ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Health It ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Therapeutic Practice ◽  
Intervention Technique ◽  
Environmental Setting

Bonsai art refers to the cultivation of a miniature tree. This study was motivated by the hypothesis that bonsai art may also be an ecopsychological, therapeutic practice that can have meaningful healing qualities. An international online survey elicited the meaning of bonsai art for 255 skilled bonsai practitioners. Questionnaires and interviews were used to elicit the experiences of participants. The findings supported the hypothesis that, for skilled practitioners, bonsai art was associated with meaningful healing experiences. In particular, the evidence suggests that bonsai art facilitates improved ecological, spiritual and emotional awareness, as well as various healing dimensions, including aesthetic creativity, resilience, adaptability, and social, physical, and personal health. It is viewed as an intervention technique that requires few resources, is easy to apply, and has a minimal impact on any environmental setting. The conclusions drawn point to the ethically sound health promotion value of bonsai art in various settings, such as psychiatric hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centres and prisons.

Identifying Communities’ Perspectives on their Health Needs in Impoverished Villages to Guide Non-government Organizations’ Health Promotion Efforts in Guatemala

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 9-20
Author(s):  
Claudia Bale
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Non Profit

Objective: The aim of this mixed-methods study is to capture and understand impoverished Guatemalan community members’ perspectives of their own health needs on a community level in order to guide Hope of Life (HOL) Non-Profit organization’s health promotion interventions in the villages they serve. Methods: A modified health needs assessment survey was conducted with 96 participants from four impoverished villages in the department of Zacapa, Guatemala. Survey responses were analyzed for significant differences in 4-item individual, family, and community health scores across demographic variables and significant correlations with reported personal health conditions and children’s health conditions. Five semi-structured interviews were also conducted with community leaders from three of the villages surveyed. Interviews were audio recorded and responses were transcribed verbatim and translated from Spanish to English. Thematic analysis using HyperRESEARCH qualitative analysis software version 4.5.0. was conducted to identify major themes. Results: The mean age of the 96 participants surveyed was 40.4 years and the majority were women, married or in Union, and have children. Women reported a significantly lower individual and family health score than men. The most rural village included in the study had significantly lower family health scores than the three sub-urban villages in the study. Among the personal health problems reported by participants, alcohol consumption, dental problems, and malnutrition were significant predictors of lower individual health scores. Themes that emerged from the interview analysis included the greatest community health needs, perceived negative community health behaviors, barriers to health care access, HOL’s impact, and suggestions for community health promotion.   Conclusion: The results of this study reveal many unmet health needs and barriers to healthcare that Guatemalan village communities face. Community-based participatory research using a mixed approach voices communities’ perspective on their perceived needs and is an important tool to guide non-profit aid and intervention serving impoverished communities.

scholarly journals Use of masks in public places in Poland during SARS-Cov-2 epidemic: a covert observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Ganczak ◽  
Oskar Pasek ◽  
Łukasz Duda – Duma ◽  
Dawid Świstara ◽  
Marcin Korzeń
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Closed Space ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Health Control ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Face masks have been employed in the COVID-19 pandemic plans as a public and personal health control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In Poland, obligatory wearing of masks in public spaces was introduced on April 10th, 2020; a relaxation of previous universal measures was announced on May 29th, 2020, limiting use to indoor public places. Objective To assess use of masks or other protective devices in public spaces in Poland during the SARS-Cov-2 epidemic. Methods A non-participatory covert observational study was conducted on three dates, (10.05/18.05/25.05.2020) at public spaces in 13 regions with different risks. Ten consecutive individuals were observed by each of 82 medical students (n = 2460 observations), using a structured checklist. Results Among 2353 observed persons, the female/male ratios were 1.0, 1.1, and 1.0 on the three dates. Almost three quarters - 73.6% (n = 552/750) were using masks on date 1, 66.5% (544/818) on date 2; and 65.7% (516/785) on date 3. Cloth masks predominated on all dates (64.7–62.3%-62.6%), followed by medical (23.4–28.5%-26.9%). Being female (OR = 1.77–1.47-1.53 respectively) and location in a closed space (OR = 2.60–2.59-2.32) were each associated with higher usage. Participants in sports were about two times less likely to use masks (OR = 0.64–0.53-0.53) as compared to other activities. The proportion using masks correctly decreased gradually over time (364/552; 65.9%; 339/544; 62.3% and 304/516; 58.9%). More females wore masks correctly (date 1: 205/294; 69.7% vs 159/258; 61.6%, and date 3: 186/284; 65.5% vs 118/232; 50.9%; p = 0.045; p = 0.0008 respectively). Uncovered noses (47.3–52.7%) and masks around the neck (39.2–42.6%) were the most frequent incorrect practices. Conclusions Practices were not in line with official recommendations, especially among males, and deteriorated over time. Cloth masks were predominantly used in public spaces. Health promotion, through utilizing all available communication channels, would be helpful to increase compliance.

Multifactorial analysis of cancer patients’ willingness for COVID-19 vaccination.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 12062-12062
Author(s):  
Paris A. Kosmidis ◽  
Christie Lagogianni ◽  
Thanos Kosmidis
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Diagnosis Date ◽  
Time Since Diagnosis

12062 Background: Public health authorities advocate vaccinations for the general population, including cancer patients and survivors. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, its vaccine has been eagerly awaited, but the extent of cancer patients’ willingness to get vaccinated is not clear. As health promotion is crucial for these individuals, it is important to measure and analyze their willingness to receive the vaccine. Methods: A few days after the regulatory approval for the first COVID-19 vaccine, the CareAcross online interactive platforms were used to evaluate the willingness of patients to get vaccinated. Through an online survey, within a few hours, 1106 cancer patients selected either “Yes, I plan to get the vaccine” or “No, I will not get the vaccine”. The patients were from the UK, Germany, France, Spain or Italy; they had been diagnosed with breast, lung, prostate or colorectal cancer. Their responses were analyzed to determine how their cancer diagnosis (including date, metastatic status, and other aspects), and their country of origin, affected their reported willingness to get vaccinated. Results: Overall, 70.6% of patients indicated willingness to get the vaccine (WTV), and 29.4% reported the opposite (NWTV). The strongest determinant of WTV was the patient’s country of origin: patients in the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France reported WTV of 84.1%, 64.2%, 58.7%, 47.4% and 38.3%, respectively. The next strongest determinant was the time elapsed since the patient’s diagnosis: for the largest population with available diagnosis date (451 UK patients), the average time since diagnosis for patients with WTV vs NWTV was: breast, 3.5 vs 2.5 years; lung, 1.6 vs 1.4 years; prostate, 2.4 vs 3.3 years; colorectal, 1.9 vs 1.5 years. Among patients from other countries with available diagnosis date: as the time since diagnosis increased, among 148 Italian patients WTV gradually increased; among 94 Spanish patients, WTV substantially decreased; among 85 French patients, WTV gradually decreased; among 50 German patients, WTV substantially increased. There was no significant correlation of WTV percentages with cancer type; metastatic status; triple negative vs non-triple negative among breast cancer patients; non-small cell vs small cell among lung cancer patients. Conclusions: Despite long-standing efforts of the scientific community for health promotion through the COVID-19 vaccine, a substantial percentage of cancer patients reported no willingness to get vaccinated. This appeared to depend on each patient’s country of origin, and the time elapsed since their diagnosis. This patient input was collected shortly after the first vaccine’s approval. With increasing evidence of efficacy and safety through more vaccinations of citizens and patients, willingness is expected to increase. We are in the process of conducting a follow-up survey to track these changes and update the results to be reportable during ASCO.

The Demise of an Australian Physical Activity Alliance

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 795-798
Author(s):  
Rebecca Reynolds ◽  
David Menzies ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Collective Impact ◽  
Governmental Funding ◽  
Exercise Referral ◽  
Exercise Referral Scheme ◽  
National Physical Activity

Background: Physical activity health promotion coalitions are uncommon but important for beneficial collective impact on public health. The authors sought to obtain the viewpoints of member organizations of an Australian physical activity alliance, the National Physical Activity Alliance. Methods: The authors conducted an online survey regarding member agenda, commitment, and vision for the alliance. Questions were mostly open ended (eg, “What are the 3 areas of priority related to physical activity that you would like The Alliance to focus on?”). A total of 11 Australian organizations involved in physical activity public health (eg, the nongovernment organization Alzheimer’s Australia and the professional fitness association Fitness Australia). Results: 82% of members responded to the survey. Member programs and goals were diverse and overlapping. There was agreement among members that the main priority area for alliance focus was a national exercise referral scheme. Barriers for members achieving their own goals as well as alliance goals focused on governmental issues, including inadequate government funding for physical activity public health. Conclusions: This novel survey highlights the promise and difficulties of a physical activity coalition, with the difficulties, namely lack of governmental funding, resulting in a stagnation of the alliance’s activities since the study was carried out.

Randomized Trial of a Health Promotion Program For Frail Elders

1992 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Hall ◽  
Paula De Beck ◽  
Debra Johnson ◽  
Kelly Mackinnon ◽  
Gloria Gutman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care At Home ◽  
At Home

AbstractThis study evaluates a local health promotion project that may be widely adaptable to assist frail elderly persons to live longer at home. Subjects, enrolled in New Westminster, B.C., were men and women aged 65 and over living in their own homes but assessed and newly admitted to “personal care at home” by the Long Term Care (LTC) program of the B.C. Ministry of Health. About 90 per cent of eligible clients consented to participate. Randomized to Treatment or Control, they were followed for three years. Controls (n = 86) received standard LTC services, which included screening and pre-admission assessment, arrangement/purchase of needed services and review at three months and at least yearly thereafter. The Treatment group (n = 81) received standard LTC services plus visits from the project nurse who helped each subject to devise a personal health plan based on his or her needs in the areas of health care, substance use, exercise, nutrition, stress management, emotional functioning, social support and participation, housing, finances and transportation. The visits concentrated on setting goals and developing personal health skills, with referral to appropriate community services. An additional group of LTC clients (n = 81) from the adjacent community of Coquitlam was also followed. Success or “survival” was defined as “alive and still assessed for care at home”. After three years the “survival rate” for the Treatment group was 75.3 per cent, compared with 59.3 per cent for the Control group and 58.0 per cent for the Coquitlam group. Standard Kaplan-Meier “survival” graphs show that Treatment subjects were more likely to be alive and living at home at every time point during the three years. Differences between the Treatment and Control groups were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) both for simple cross-tabulations of care status at 24 and 36 months and in tests comparing “survival” curves. The results are especially striking because Control subjects received LTC services in a geographic area that offers universal access to health care and community resources and because the Control data were concurrent, not historical.

Consumer preferences for ‘natural’ agricultural practices: Assessing methods to manage bird pests

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 516-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Herrnstadt ◽  
Philip H. Howard ◽  
Chi-Ok Oh ◽  
Catherine A. Lindell
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Market Potential ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Methyl Anthranilate ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Bird Management

Abstract‘Natural’ is a popular food marketing term. Although it is not well-defined, it refers primarily to inputs used for food processing, rather than agricultural practices. Given the market success of organic and non-GMO labeled foods, other agricultural practices may have the potential to develop ‘natural’ market niches while also addressing sustainability goals. We assessed perceptions of natural for one specific set of agricultural practices, bird management methods in fruit crops, utilizing a series of four focus groups. In addition, we quantified consumer preferences for these methods with a national online survey (n = 1000). The most positively received methods, falconry and nest boxes, were typically described as more natural. Conversely, the most negatively received methods, live ammunition and methyl anthranilate spray, were frequently viewed as less natural. The majority of survey respondents indicated that controlling fruit-consuming birds with natural practices was important, but an even higher percentage deemed avoiding harms to personal health as important. Because falconry and nest boxes do not have perceived direct effects on human health, they are likely to have less market potential than more established ecolabels. Communicating the use of these practices to consumers, however, may result in consumers selecting them over other products, particularly if the associated price premiums are relatively modest.

Workforce insights on how health promotion is practised in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn McFarlane ◽  
Sue Devine ◽  
Jenni Judd ◽  
Nina Nichols ◽  
Kerrianne Watt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Comprehensive Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Council ◽  
Health Promotion Practice

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services deliver holistic and culturally appropriate primary health care to over 150 communities in Australia. Health promotion is a core function of comprehensive primary health care; however, little has been published on what enables or challenges health promotion practice in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. Apunipima Cape York Health Council (Apunipima) delivers primary health care to 11 remote north Queensland communities. The workforce includes medical, allied health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and health practitioners and corporate support staff. This study aimed to identify current health promotion practices at Apunipima, and the enablers and challenges identified by the workforce, which support or hinder health promotion practice. Sixty-three staff from across this workforce completed an online survey in February 2015 (42% response rate). Key findings were: (1) health promotion is delivered across a continuum of one-on-one approaches through to population advocacy and policy change efforts; (2) the attitude towards health promotion was very positive; and (3) health promotion capacity can be enhanced at both individual and organisational levels. Workforce insights have identified areas for continued support and areas that, now identified, can be targeted to strengthen the health promotion capacity of Apunipima.

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