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Sexual health promotion and nursing.

The HIV epidemic provides continued impetus for effective sexual health promotion. Sexual health promotion in nursing practice has traditionally been equated to prevention at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Increasing demands on practitioners to address the psycho-social aspects of sexual health, together with a greater emphasis on primary prevention, is leading to the adoption of theoretical paradigms from the behavioural sciences and the increasing use of counselling skills. The limitations of individualist interventions for primary prevention are explored, and the assumption that health care professionals are effective promoters of sexual health is questioned. The importance of placing sexual health and nursing practice within a wider social, political and cultural context is emphasized.

HIV Infections↗

The Health Promoting Prison (HPP) and its imperative for nursing.

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1986 provided the catalyst from which the Health Promoting Prison (HPP) movement emerged. Here, an extensive review of the available prison-related health literature provides the basis for critical discussion and recommendations for nursing services and prison-related health care. The findings suggest that current prison-based nursing services are seriously neglected and woefully lacking in structure and resources. This article recommends strategies for reform that includes nurses who practice in all settings, and not just prison-based nurses. If nurses wish to be at the forefront of future HPP strategies, they must first embrace the radical health promotion reforms that are emerging from the current literature. Building sustainable group capacity into prison-based health care, through developing social interaction, cohesion, participation and political action can only benefit the community at large and further emphasise the health promotion role of nursing.

Clinical Competence↗

Placement of health promotion columns in suburban newspapers--an analysis.

In the fall of 1982, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Public Health Service, engaged the services of the North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., to distribute two columns on health promotion to suburban newspapers. An analysis of the placement of these two health promotion columns in local newspapers was undertaken to determine if this method of disseminating health information to the public is effective and cost-conscious. The information gained from this analysis, though limited in scope, provides information to decision makers responsible for disseminating health information to the public. North American Precis Syndicate, Inc. (NAPS), distributes public information through various channels. One service NAPS provides is a clip sheet of publication-ready newspaper columns complete with artwork which an editor can "clip" and use directly in a newspaper. NAPS is able to use existing information and artwork to develop its columns, so agency staff time is minimal in developing material. NAPS also provides clippings of the articles as they actually appear in the 3,800 suburban newspapers it services. It is the information from the NAPS "clipping service" on which this report is based.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

Health promotion as a nursing function: perceptions held by university students of nursing.

Health care in Australia is more often perceived to be illness rather than health focused in nature. The increasing cost of health care has prompted a movement towards health promotion in the community demanding increasing involvement of health care professionals. This three year study was undertaken to determine the attitudes of students towards health promotion on entry and throughout a tertiary nursing programme. This longitudinal study was exploratory in nature and examined the attitudes of two student cohorts over the programme's three years. Entering students cited the health promotion function more frequently than did those nearing programme completion. There is a need to emphasise health promotion as a role if this is seen as desirable behaviour for comprehensively educated nurses. The perceptions of three intakes of students were examined. The function of health promotion was perceived to be important by entry students and was within the three most frequently mentioned functions.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

The benefits of anthropological approaches for health promotion research and practice.

In recent years health education practitioners have been looking for ways to extend the social psychological analysis of human behavior with approaches that focus on the cultural and social context of human behavior. In this article the value of the 'thick description' approach, borrowed from anthropology, is explored by examples from the Caribbean and South Africa. It demonstrates that an anthropological approach has much to offer as a basis for sound interventions for understanding human behavior. However, although an anthropological approach offers valuable starting points for interventions, its broad scope exceeds the traditional goals of health education (changing health beliefs, health counseling). Interventions will not aim at informing individuals, but at improving cultures. They may concern the change of basic cultural and social structures such as gender roles. To limit the risk of ethnocentrism, adequate ways need to be developed to make optimal use of the information thick description offers, while avoiding ethnocentrism. The article ends with a discussion concerning the assets of a dialogical approach towards health promotion. A dialogue between health promoters and their target population may help solve the problem of ethnocentrism in broadly scoped interventions.

Anthropology, Cultural↗

Barriers to health promotion activities in public hospitals.

Despite the central role hospitals have in the health care system, relatively few health promotion activities are conducted in Australian public hospitals. This study investigated the types of obstacles that were perceived to inhibit health promotion activities in hospitals. A questionnaire for self-completion was sent to medical superintendents in all public hospitals in Queensland and 112 questionnaires were returned (92.6 per cent response rate). The results indicated that lack of finance, lack of interest by relevant others, and needs (for appropriate programs, training and patient receptivity) were the barriers reported by superintendents. The barriers of 'interest' and 'needs' were related to a lack of written policies in some areas, but not directly to levels of other health promotion activities being conducted in the hospitals. Success in facilitating health promotion programs in hospitals will need to include a change in the environment, in particular the views of medical superintendents. The combination of attitude change and the availability of a motivated person (such as a health promotion officer) to lead the activities may be needed in order to produce an increase in the level of health promotion in public hospitals.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

The effectiveness of health promotion education programs for community elderly.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of health promotion education programs for a group of elderly residents in a community. A one group pre- and post-test design was used in this study. Nurses, dietitians, and physical education teachers worked collaboratively to provide a series of comprehensive, integrated education programs. Course content included healthy life style and health promotion, disease prevention, nutrition, exercise, and medication education. A total of 140 elderly participated in this study. Ninety- seven subjects attended all of the education programs. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Information about demographics, health status, health promotion knowledge and behaviors was included. The health promotion behavior data were collected twice. The initial data set was collected prior to the first course and the second after the fifth course. Health promotion knowledge was assessed pre- and post-test in the second, third, and fourth courses. The research findings revealed that the education programs were effective in improving elderly health promotion knowledge and behaviors. The scores for health promotion knowledge and positive health behaviors were high among subjects who were aged 65-69 years, were married, lived with family members and had higher education levels. The results could be used as a reference in future health promotion education in the community.

Aged↗

Health promotion for the nursing home patient.

BACKGROUND: The current nursing home population numbers at least 1.5 million and is growing. Although care of the nursing home patient has been emphasized recently, health promotion activities for these patients appear underused. Current recommendations for health promotion are based on expert opinion, because well-controlled studies to support such activities in the elderly are lacking for most practices. METHODS: Using the key words "health promotion" and "preventive health services," cross-referenced with "aged," articles were selected from MEDLINE files from 1979 to the present. Bibliographies of these references were reviewed to select additional references. RESULTS: A review of the literature shows that although health promotion activities are not appropriate for every nursing home patient, many patients live for years in the long-term care facility and can benefit from health promotion. Health promotion activities can be organized around patients' length of stay. Procedures that should be considered include breast cancer screening, Papanicolaou smears for cervical cancer, hearing and vision loss screening, fall prevention assessment, immunizations, screening for dementia and depression, drug evaluation, screening for thyroid disease, and advance directives. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians who practice in nursing homes should consider health promotion for select nursing home patients.

Aged↗

Predictors of quality of life in women: hormone therapy self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviors.

Osteoporosis and coronary heart diseases (CHD) are two major health problems that affect postmenopausal women. The literature emphasizes that prevention of osteoporosis and/or CHD through the practices of health-promoting behaviors and hormone therapy usage can improve quality of life (QOL) for women. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of health-promoting behaviors and hormone therapy self-efficacy on QOL. The sample contained 210 women between the ages of 45 and 84 years of age, who completed three instruments developed specifically for this study. The majority of the participants perceived moderate satisfaction with their life as a whole, performed many health-promoting behaviors, and perceived slight confidence in their ability to continue hormone therapy. Among current users of hormones, hormone therapy self-efficacy beliefs explained 31% of the variance in QOL. Among non-users of hormones, health-promoting behaviors explained 7% of the variance in QOL. In the entire sample, health-promoting behaviors explained 10% of the variance in QOL. There were significant differences between current users of hormones and non-users of hormones in QOL and in health-promoting behaviors. The study has implications for intervention and for future research.

Aged↗

Population health promotion: responsible sharing of future directions.

Population health promotion illustrates most robustly that health is a shared responsibility. Improving our understanding of the social production of health and the purchase population health promotion has on shaping social welfare policy presents a number of challenges to the future development of this discourse. Three are briefly discussed in this paper. First is the matter of language we use to describe our understanding of processes and influences. Second is the conceptualization of the pathways that shape population health status. Finally, cultural practices both extant and required to improve health status and reduce inequalities are addressed.

Canada↗

Health promoting schools in England--a way forward in development.

Schools are identified as a key setting for health promotion in the UK Government's consultation report on the public health strategy for England. The concept of the 'healthy' or 'health promoting school' provides the basis for a broad settings approach to health promotion in schools. The approach extends beyond the formal health education curriculum to include a consideration of the physical and social environment of schools and their links and partnerships with parents and the wider community, in pursuit of better health. There is growing evidence that the health promoting school approach is effective in influencing outcomes related to health and education. Initiatives in the form of projects and schemes are commonly used by Health Promotion Specialist services and health partnerships, to stimulate and support the adoption of the approach by schools. A national healthy school scheme is to be launched alongside these local initiatives in 1999. The paper reviews research and practice in this area and makes recommendations to inform the future development of schools as health promoting organizations.

Child↗

Health promotion and the freedom of the individual.

This article considers the extent to which health promotion strategies pose a threat to individual freedom. It begins by taking a look at health promotion strategies and at the historical development of health promotion in Britain. A theoretical context is then developed in which Berlin's distinction between negative and positive liberty is used alongside the ideas of John Stuart Mill, Charles Taylor and T.H. Green to discuss the politics of health promotion and to identify the implications of conflicting perspectives on freedom. The final section looks at current health promotion policy in Britain and beyond and argues that, if freedom is seen in terms of empowerment, health promotion can enhance individual freedom.

Choice Behavior↗

Key elements for church-based health promotion programs: outcome-based literature review.

Although not a new concept, church-based health promotion programs have yet to be widely researched. Few of the initial studies used randomized and controlled designs. Dissemination of study results has been sporadic, with findings often reported in church periodicals. A renewed interest in church-based health promotion programs (CBHPP) is emerging. The purpose of this article is to propose seven key elements found in a literature review to be beneficial in establishing church-based community health promotion programs that demonstrated desired health promotion outcomes. Based on the outcomes of successful CBHPP, the following key elements have been identified: partnerships, positive health values, availability of services, access to church facilities, community-focused interventions, health behavior change, and supportive social relationships. An example of one program that embodies these elements is presented. The Heart and Soul Program, designed to increase physical activity in midlife women to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease with advancing age, is discussed within the context of the elements for successful church-based programs. CBHPP have effectively promoted health behaviors within certain communities. To promote health and wellness in light of our diverse society and health needs, health promotion professionals and churches can be dynamic partners.

Black or African American↗

Boston's Codman Square Community Partnership for Health Promotion.

The Codman Square Community Partnership for Health Promotion is a program designed to promote changes in individual behavior and community relationships to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the many problems affecting poor, minority communities in the United States. Problems of particular concern to be addressed by the program include violence, injuries, substance abuse, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), infant mortality, child abuse and neglect, and cardiovascular disease. The failure of traditional health promotion approaches to poor communities has created a literature supporting community-based action directed at broad social forces. The Codman Square Community Partnership for Health Promotion uses a variety of models--community participation, community organization, empowerment education, and community-oriented primary care--to encourage new coalitions that can ameliorate the social isolation and health-averse social norms linked to poverty and poor health. The program uses local residents trained as lay health workers to deliver home-based health services and to help create the necessary partnerships, linkages, and communication networks to foster the reorganization of the community to better address its health problems.

Boston↗

Problem drinkers in accident and emergency: health promotion initiatives.

Problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption often contribute to Accident and Emergency attendances, giving possible health promotion opportunities to this client group. These could include screening, health education (verbal or written), brief intervention and referral to alcohol services. Accident and Emergency staff rarely take these opportunities. A knowledge of alcohol problems, possible health promotion initiatives and services available alter attitudes and increase the likelihood of staff giving health promotion. Health promotion to problem drinkers should be a routine in Accident and Emergency departments.

Alcoholism↗

Health promotion--a further field to conquer.

We examine some of the interpretations of health promotion. A brief review of the effectiveness of some health promotion programmes in the community and at the worksite in the United States is also presented in view of the similarity of its disease pattern with Singapore. We recommend the following strategies for the practice of health promotion in Singapore: formulation of clearly defined goals; intersectoral collaboration and community participation. Tanahill's model based on the overlapping spheres of health education, disease prevention and health protection is useful in identifying key groups and their roles in health promotion. Green's PROCEED-PRECEDE planning framework which identifies the various behavioural and environmental factors affecting health can help in deriving a highly focused subset of factors as targets for intervention. Research in health promotion should focus on compliance studies on healthy lifestyle regimens, and qualitative and quantitative evaluative studies on process and outcomes of different interventions.

Health Education↗

Towards a decision support system for health promotion in nursing.

AIMS: This study was designed to investigate what type of models, techniques and data are necessary to support the development of a decision support system for health promotion practice in nursing. Specifically, the research explored how interview data can be interpreted in terms of Concept Networks and Bayesian Networks, both of which provide formal methods for describing the dependencies between factors or variables in the context of decision-making in health promotion. BACKGROUND: In nursing, the lack of generally accepted examples or guidelines by which to implement or evaluate health promotion practice is a challenge. Major gaps have been identified between health promotion rhetoric and practice and there is a need for health promotion to be presented in ways that make its attitudes and practices more easily understood. New tools, paradigms and techniques to encourage the practice of health promotion would appear to be beneficial. Concept Networks and Bayesian Networks are techniques that may assist the research team to understand and explicate health promotion more specifically and formally than has been the case, so that it may more readily be integrated into nursing practice. METHODS: As the ultimate goal of the study was to investigate ways to use the techniques described above, it was necessary to first generate data as text. Textual descriptions of health promotion in nursing were derived from in-depth qualitative interviews with nurses nominated by their peers as expert health promoting practitioners. FINDINGS: The nurses in this study gave only general and somewhat vague outlines of the concepts and ideas that guided their practice. These data were compared with descriptions from various sources that describe health promotion practices in nursing, then examples of a Conceptual Network and a representative Bayesian Network were derived from the data. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted the difficulty in describing health promotion practice, even among nurses recognized for their expertise in health promotion. Nevertheless, it indicated the data collection and analysis methods necessary to explicate the cognitive processes of health promotion and highlighted the benefits of using formal conceptualization techniques to improve health promotion practice.

Bayes Theorem↗

Determinants of health-promoting behaviors in adults.

Risk reduction for coronary artery disease (CAD) is a goal of health providers. The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) adults' knowledge about CAD; 2) if adults who have risk for CAD also practice health-promoting behaviors; and, 3) if there is a correlation among adults' practice of health-promoting behaviors, health locus of control, value of health, and knowledge of CAD risk factors. Findings indicate that subjects were knowledgeable about personal CAD risk, and those with higher CAD risk knowledge also practiced more health-promoting behaviors. Subjects had less knowledge about elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, and use of oral contraceptives. Additional findings suggest that individuals' beliefs about control over their health, health value, and knowledge about CAD risk factors are related to their participation in health-promoting behaviors.

Coronary Disease↗