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Health Promotion Practices (health + promotion_practice)
Selected AbstractsTowards a decision support system for health promotion in nursingJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2003Kate Caelli PhD RN RM 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. [source] Facilitating effective health promotion practice in a public health unit: lessons from the fieldAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2007Jessica Berentson-Shaw Objectives: Health promotion is a core function of public health services and improving the effectiveness of health promotion services is an essential part of public health service development. This report describes the rationale, the process and the outcomes of a realignment designed to improve the effectiveness of health promotion activities in a public health unit (PHU) in New Zealand. Methods: A practice environment analysis revealed several factors that were hindering the effectiveness of the health promotion unit's (HPU) activities. Two primary change mechanisms were implemented. The first was an outcomes-focused model of planning and service delivery (to support evidenced-based practice), the second was the reorganisation of the HPU from a topicsbased structure to an integrated one based on a multi-risk factor paradigm of population health. Results: During the realignment barriers were encountered on multiple levels. At the individual level, unfavourable attitudes to changes occurred because of a lack of information and knowledge about the benefits of evidence and research. At higher levels, barriers included resourcing concerns, a lack of organisational commitment and understanding, and tensions between the political need for expedient change and research and development need for timely consideration of the impact of different models of practice. Conclusions and Implications: This realignment took place within the context of a changing public health environment, which is significantly altering the delivery of public health and health promotion. Realignments designed to facilitate more effective health promotion and public health practice will continue, but need to do so in the light of others' experience and debate. [source] A review of the effectiveness of oral health promotion activities among elderly peopleGERODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Colman McGrath Objectives:, This study aimed to review the effectiveness of oral health promotion studies conducted among elderly people between 1997 and 2007. Methods:, Four electronic databases were searched and papers were rated for level of evidence and scientific quality. Key findings of the papers were summarised. Results:, Thirteen thousand nine hundred and four papers were retrieved and 17 studies (18 papers) met the criteria for the review: 13 were randomised controlled studies, three were quasi-experimental studies and one was a pre-/post-single group intervention study. According to the Levels of Evidence, 11 studies could be categorised as 1b and six studies could be categorised as 2b. The quality of the evidence of the 17 studies ranged from 12 to 19; 13 of the studies had a score of 15 or above; four of the studies ranged from 12 to 14. Evidence from oral health promotion activities aimed at preventing caries, improving periodontal health and altering oral health behaviours were reviewed. The use of fluoride, antimicrobial agents and health-care provider education has important roles within oral health promotion activities for elderly people. Studies have tended to be of short-term duration and rely on surrogate outcome measures of oral health. Conclusion:, In the last 10 years, increasing attention has been paid to oral health promotion activities among the elderly population and high quality evidence has emerged. However, there is a need for even higher-quality research to provide more definitive guidelines on oral health promotion practices for elderly people. [source] Towards a decision support system for health promotion in nursingJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2003Kate Caelli PhD RN RM 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. [source] Promoting Health in Older Adults: A Four-Year AnalysisJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 1 2001Barbara Resnick PhD, FAANP PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to consider the influence of selected health promotion and disease prevention interventions in elderly residents of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) over a four-year period by comparing actual health promotion practices of the residents. DATA SOURCES Original research using a descriptive design, face-to-face interviews of residents (N=176-200), chart reviews, and administration of a minimental state exam (MMSE) and health survey administered annually. CONCLUSIONS In each year the mean age of the residents was at least 85, the majority were female, Caucasian, and unmarried. With the exception of checking stools for occult blood, there was a statistically significant change in all health promotion behaviors over the four-year period. The most significant change was in the area of exercise behavior, which increased from 24% of the residents participating in regular exercise in year one to 61% by year four. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The purpose of health promotion and disease prevention in older adults is to reduce the potential years of life lost in premature mortality and ensure better quality of remaining life. In addition to regularly scheduled interventions (group education, on-site administration of pneumonia and flu vaccines, on-site exercise room and walking group), individualized counseling regarding the pros and cons of health-promotion activities was provided to help residents make an educated decision about engaging in these activities. These interventions can be used to help facilitate participation in health promotion activities as appropriate and desired for each older adult. [source] | ||||||||||