scholarly journals Influence of the Socio-Cultural Environment and External Factors in Following Plant-Based Diets

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9093
Author(s):  
Ujué Fresán ◽  
Sofie Errendal ◽  
Winston J. Craig

A general transition to plant-based diets is recommended for improved human and planetary health. The information about why people opt for plant-based diets can be used to profile future health promotion initiatives. We studied the reasons that encouraged the adoption and maintenance of plant-based diets and the influence of the socio-cultural environment and other external factors. Through the use of a specifically designed questionnaire, we evaluated two different populations. Interpreting data from 229 participants, we observed the relevance of adapting strategies to motivate people to embrace plant-based diets according to their socio-cultural environment. External factors facilitating access to plant-based products appeared to be essential in both populations.

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992097638
Author(s):  
Deinera Exner-Cortens ◽  
Alysia Wright ◽  
Marisa Van Bavel ◽  
Kathleen C. Sitter ◽  
Debb Hurlock ◽  
...  

Gender-transformative approaches (i.e., approaches that support male-identified individuals to critique and resist stereotypical male gender role norms that negatively affect health and well-being) are increasingly recognized as a key health promotion strategy. However, there is limited evidence to date on gender-transformative interventions for male-identified adolescents. In addition, given the dynamic and socially constructed nature of gender, methods beyond quantitative data collection are needed to gain a holistic understanding of promising gender-transformative health promotion approaches. One newer method to capture lived experiences with adolescents is photo-based evaluation, where youth program participants take pictures to represent their knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors before and after a program. The present study presents findings from the photo-based evaluation of a gender-transformative health promotion program called WiseGuyz. WiseGuyz is offered to mid-adolescent, male-identified youth in school and community settings, and is designed to promote mental and sexual health and prevent violence. Six youth photographers from a rural Canadian setting took part in this evaluation, taking photos to represent what being a guy in their world meant before and after WiseGuyz. Youth then participated in an individual visual storytelling interview and a group-based photovoice process. Key themes in relation to masculinities that emerged from these data were around changes to (1) social norms and (2) emotionality following program participation, and the need for a safe program space to support these changes. This study adds to literature demonstrating the promise of gender-transformative approaches with adolescents, with implications for future health promotion research and practice with male-identified youth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 824-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Michaelson ◽  
William Pickett ◽  
Colleen Davison

AbstractHolism is an ancient theme concept that has resurfaced in recent literature, and that requires informed and intentional use in order to preserve its utility. This paper provides a historical and conceptual reintroduction of the notion of holism as it relates to health, with the hopes of informing the term's use in public health discourse. It also addresses the challenges that a lack of conceptual clarity about holistic health imposes on public health and health promotion discussions. It describes how the use and conceptualizations of holism are shifting in health promotion and argues that failing to accurately define and delineate its scope risks diluting its utility for future health promotion applications. We address these two problems, and build an argument for a rediscovery of the theory of holism in public health and health promotion, globally.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Povey ◽  
Mary Anne Mercer

East Timor was liberated from 400 years of conquest and exploitation in an armed struggle that ended, in September 1999, in a conflagration that destroyed its social and physical infrastructures. For two years the territory has been under United Nations administration. Political conditions remain unstable as the result of many intrinsic and external factors. Its economy continues to depend upon infusions of funds from multilateral, bilateral, and private sources. Efforts by expatriates to introduce Euro-American cultural and technical models have been applied to the factors that determine health, with modest results. East Timor expects to be totally independent of foreign control early in 2002. Its future health will depend upon continuing collaboration between international and local leadership in evolving effective government, economy, and health services designed, managed, and executed by Timorese.


1996 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Stokols

Health promotion programs often lack a clearly specified theoretical foundation or are based on narrowly conceived conceptual models. For example, lifestyle modification programs typically emphasize individually focused behavior change strategies, while neglecting the environmental underpinnings of health and illness. This article compares three distinct, yet complementary, theoretical perspectives on health promotion: behavioral change, environmental enhancement, and social ecological models. Key strengths and limitations of each perspective are examined, and core principles of social ecological theory are used to derive practical guidelines for designing and evaluating community health promotion programs. Directions for future health promotion research are discussed, including studies examining the role of intermediaries (e.g., corporate decision-makers, legislators) in promoting the well-being of others, and those evaluating the duration and scope of intervention outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Ruslan V. Tekliuk ◽  
Ihor V. Serheta ◽  
Oksana A. Serebrennikova

Introduction: Both positive and risky health behaviours among adolescents are of paramount importance as they often pathway further lifestyles and determine future health outcomes. The paper focuses on the trends of health promotion activities and health risks among adolescents who have been instructed on these topics at secondary schools. The aim: to detect trends in pro-active health behaviour and risk taking activities of Ukrainian adolescents in the last 14 years. Materials and methods: males and females, aged 15-17, who studied in secondary schools of the urban area of Vinnytsia city, Ukraine, in the years 2003, 2013, 2017, anonymously filled in the 118-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Cochran Q test, Spearman correlation analysis, Kendall’s tau coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, the data about health related issues obtained in the year 2003 vary significantly from the years 2013 and 2017, which indicates some beneficial influence that has taken place since 2003. Much fewer differences were spotted between the years 2013 and 2017. Health related behaviours in females showed less significant dynamics and some changes indicate regression, while males reported multiple improved results. Meanwhile actual numbers of males who opted for risky behaviours were higher than those of females. Significant relationships were found between some socio-economic factors, positive health behaviours (sufficient sleep, physical activity, daily regime, and life satisfaction) and proactive health choices. Conclusions: The available data suggests that there was a beneficial health-related influence on the schoolchildren over the years 2003-2017. Our findings also support the view that certain assets may protect the youth from risk-taking behaviours.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175797592110622
Author(s):  
Sione Tu’itahi ◽  
Huti Watson ◽  
Richard Egan ◽  
Margot W. Parkes ◽  
Trevor Hancock

We now live in a new geological age, the Anthropocene – the age of humans – the start of which coincides with the founding of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) 70 years ago. In this article, we address the fundamental challenge facing health promotion in its next 70 years, which takes us almost to 2100: how do we achieve planetary health? We begin with a brief overview of the massive and rapid global ecological changes we face, the social, economic and technological driving forces behind those changes, and their health implications. At the heart of these driving forces lie a set of core values that are incompatible with planetary health. Central to our argument is the need for a new set of values, which heed and privilege the wisdom of Indigenous worldviews, as well as a renewed sense of spirituality that can re-establish a reverence for nature. We propose an Indigenous-informed framing to inspire and inform what we call planetary health promotion so that, as the United Nations Secretary General wrote recently, we can make peace with nature.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Slimings ◽  
Emily Sisson ◽  
Connor Larson ◽  
Devin Bowles ◽  
Rafat Hussain

Background: The future health workforce needs to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to deliver sustainable healthcare and promote planetary health. The aim of this study was to design, implement and evaluate a new suite of planetary health learning activities piloted by medical students for a range of medical professionals. Methods: The study consisted of three components: curriculum mapping, development of learning activities and evaluation. Curriculum mapping involved searching program learning outcomes using relevant search terms. Two learning activities were co-developed with medical students comprising of an e-learning component and an inquiry-based small group workshop presented to 99 2nd year students. Evaluation consisted of pre- and post-learning knowledge quizzes and a student feedback survey. Results: A total of 30 learning outcomes were identified with the majority located in the first two years of the four-year program. The overall evaluation response rate was 49.5%, and 19% completed the feedback survey. The mean pre- and post-lesson scores, respectively, were 7.09 (SD=1.84) and 9.53 (SD=1.69) out of a possible score of 12, increasing by 2.37 points on average (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66-3.09). Overall, the new activities were rated as excellent/good by 84.2% of respondents. The e-learning module rated more highly as a meaningful learning experience than the workshop (89% v. 63.2%). The most common criticism was the length of time it took to complete the e-learning. Conclusion: Students already had a good understanding of planetary health facts and the e-learning lesson served to confirm, review and update their knowledge. Students embraced the opportunity to engage in interactive learning through the problem-solving group work activity. There is very little vertical alignment of environmental and climate issues across all four years of the medical program in our institution and a variety of learning approaches should be considered when revising the curriculum.


Challenges ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Foster ◽  
Jennifer Cole ◽  
Andrew Farlow ◽  
Ivica Petrikova

Planetary health is a transdisciplinary approach that aims to advance the understanding of the links between human-driven changes to the planet and their consequences, and to develop appropriate solutions to the challenges identified. This emerging movement has not yet agreed upon a code of ethics to underpin the rapidly expanding body of research being carried out in its name. However, a code of ethics might support the principles for planetary health set out in the Canmore Declaration of 2018. Phrases such as “Public Health 2.0”, “Human Health in an Era of Global Environmental Change”, or “A safe and just operating space for humanity” are often used in planetary health discussions, but are not always clearly defined and so far, the field lacks a strong guiding ethical framework. In this paper, we propose a starting point towards a code of ethics for planetary health that builds on the Canmore Declaration. We chose to propose 12 ethical principles in recognition of the need for a 12-Step Programme for the planet. The human race must identify and reject damaging behaviours. Evidence of the harm we are causing the planet is no longer enough and refraining from certain current practices is essential for Earth’s future health. We must motivate advocacy and calls for action. We believe a shared ethical code can act as a tool to enable and encourage that process. This paper is presented to the planetary health community as a starting point, not as a finished agenda. We welcome comments, critiques, additions and the opportunity to rework our approach accordingly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Lindmark ◽  
◽  
I. Ahlstrand ◽  
A. Ekman ◽  
L. Berg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The World Health Organization has highlighted the importance of health promotion for health service providers in order to ensure sustainable working life for individuals involved in providing health services. Such sustainability begins when students are preparing to manage their own future health and welfare in working life. It has been suggested that universities, employees and trainee health professionals should adopt or follow a salutogenic approach that not only complements the providing of information on known health risks but also favors health promotion strategies. This paper describes the study design and data collection methods in a planned study aiming to explore health-promoting factors for a sustainable working life among students in higher education within healthcare and social work. Methods This protocol describes a multicenter longitudinal study involving Swedish students on higher education programs in the healthcare and social work sectors. In 2018, the study invited students on seven education programs at six universities to participate. These programs were for qualification as: biomedical laboratory scientists (n = 121); dental hygienists (n = 87); nurses (n = 1411); occupational therapists (n = 111); physiotherapists (n = 48); radiographers (n = 60); and, social workers (n = 443). In total, 2283 students were invited to participate. Participants completed a baseline, a self-reported questionnaire including six validated instruments measuring health-promoting factors and processes. There are to be five follow-up questionnaires. Three while the students are studying, one a year after graduating, and one three years after graduating. Each questionnaire captures different health-promoting dimensions, namely: health-promoting resources (i.e. sense of coherence); occupational balance; emotional intelligence; health and welfare; social interaction; and work and workplace experiences/perceptions. Discussion This study focuses on the vastly important aspect of promoting a sustainable working life for healthcare and social work employees. In contrast to previous studies in this area, the present study uses different, validated instruments in health promotion, taking a salutogenic approach. It is hoped that, by stimulating the implementation of new strategies, the study’s findings will lead to education programs that prepare students better for a sustainable working life in healthcare and social work.


2020 ◽  
pp. 237337992090280
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Schulz ◽  
Vincent T. Francisco

Health promotion undergraduate courses frequently use active learning strategies in an attempt to ensure that future health professionals are prepared to improve population health outcomes. One teaching method with limited research in health promotion courses at the undergraduate level is interteaching (IT). IT is based on behavior analytic techniques and uses paired discussion and student-informed clarifying lectures to teach course objectives. A number of studies suggest that IT is more effective than traditional teaching methods (i.e., lecture). However, research is needed to compare IT with other active learning strategies (i.e., strategies that foster critical thinking by engaging students in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation through discussion and active student responding) and in new subject areas. The present study compared IT with an active learning strategy known as the Learning Pathway (LP) in an undergraduate community health education/promotion planning course. The LP uses group work and guided self-instruction to help students address a societal issue of their choice. Results indicate that students performed slightly higher on multiple-choice quizzes during the IT condition and correctly answered more fill-in-the-blank midterm and final exam questions related to content covered in the IT condition. However, students indicated that they preferred the LP teaching method. Although further research is needed to investigate active learning strategies that are most effective on various outcomes in health promotion courses, this study suggests that IT may be more effective than the LP on teaching course objectives as measured by quiz scores.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document