Applying Systems Thinking Approaches to Address Preventive Health Factors through Public Parks and Recreation Agencies

Within the United States parks and recreation agencies (P&R) manage public facilities, spaces, lands, and recreation programs. Public health (PH) evidence has increasingly pointed to local public P&R agencies as critical for promoting preventive health. Programs and strategies are available, but most P&R agencies have limited resources and lack local knowledge on which to base actions. However, the research base is growing. The global research question has shifted from asking IF P&R agencies can positively affect PH factors, to HOW they can best do so with limited resources.This research adapted a systems theory approach to how local public P&R agencies are addressing health factors. Methods included a literature review along with iterative exploration through a three-stage Delphi panel study with 17 P&R agency Expert Panelists in the U.S and Canada. Panelists were identified through a waterfall selection process. Each had at least three years of senior administration experience with interest in addressing PH factors.The study explored which preventive factors appear to be most modifiable by P&R. Results indicated increased physical activity, improved nutrition, enhanced safety or perception of safety, increased social and parental engagement, improved transportation and access to locations (especially nature), and cessation or reduced overconsumption of tobacco and alcohol. However, the priority of factors varies by community, and the continuing challenge is determining the priority of the factors for agencies and their partners to address. Community-specific data are not typically readily available to P&R agencies. Programs, strategies, internal methods, policies, and documents utilized by agencies were collected. Thirty-one related national initiatives (programs) were identified and ranked by the panelists.Key common strategies for P&R were identified. Results indicated a need to focus strategies on leadership and adequate funding to create a strong organizational culture of systematic assessment for addressing PH through allocation of P&R staff and financial resources. Systems thinking analysis and strategies can improve outcomes for cultural ethics of inclusion and equity, equitable access to assets and programs, collaboration with other partners, utilization of crime prevention and environmental design strategies, increased health promotions and education, and centralized tracking and evaluation of feasible measures.Implications for research include needs for additional validation and dissemination of research, evidence-based tools, and proven methods. There continues to be a strong need to help address gaps in knowledge transfer between research and practice realms. Management implications suggest methods for practice to enhance systems-thinking approaches for better preventive health outcomes through P&R in communities.

Association of Work Related Factors and Retention of Medical Officers of Health (MOH) In the Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Medical Officers are one of the key staff categories in the healthcare service. Globally there is high demand for medical officers and the government as well as private organizations have major task in retaining the services of highly trained and competent medical staff. Preventive health sector plays a vital role in the healthcare system. Medical Officers of Health (MOH) are the Medical Officers providing preventive health services in Sri Lanka. This study was carried out to explore the factors affecting retention of Medical Officers of Health in the preventive health sector in Sri Lanka.

Moringa oleifera : Nutritional and Medicinal Properties for preventive health care

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as ―drum stick‖ or the ―horse radish‖ is cultivated all over the country as it can withstand both severe drought and mild frost conditions. It is a good source of protein, vitamins, fatty acids, micro-macro minerals and other essential phytochemicals. Due to its high nutritional content, the extract of leaves of Moringa oleifera is used to treat malnutrition and supplement breast milk in lactating mothers. Because of its medicinal value, it is also used as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, cardiovascular hepatoprotective, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial agent. The pharmaceutical effects of Moringa oleifera makes it useful in therapeutic remedy in traditional medicinal system. Each part of the tree is useful in one form or another due to high nutritional and medicinal value. This paper reports the results of the study made on how these can help boosting the immunity level in individuals.

Analysis of Preventive Behaviors of Rural Tourism Hosts in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic: Application of Health Belief Model

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the most severe public health crises in recent history. Therefore, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its negative effects on the health of rural tourist hosts and the rural community, it is necessary to pay attention to the conservation and health behaviors of rural tourist hosts. This study was conducted with the purpose of analyzing preventive behaviors of rural tourism hosts in the face of COVID-19 pandemic with the application of the health belief model (HBM) that is one of the most widely used models to study behavior to prevent and control diseases. In this study, all 80 tourism hosts of tourism target villages in Kermanshah province (the west of Iran), were studied as study population. A questionnaire was used to collect data which its validity and reliability were confirmed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using Smart PLS software was used to analyze the data. The results of SEM indicated that perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, self- efficacy, perceived benefits, and cues to action accounted for 56% of the variance of “COVID-19 preventive health behavior” among the hosts of rural tourists in Kermanshah province. Moreover, the perceived susceptibility was the strongest predictor of preventive health behavior, while perceived barriers were not significant on behavior. Therefore, planning based on the HBM with emphasis on increasing awareness to improve and modify the health behavior of rural tourist hosts is recommended.