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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

The utility of the environmental scan for public health practice: lessons from an urban program to increase cancer screening.

The environmental scan is a tool that can be utilized to collect data to design health programs uniquely tailored to the needs of communities. However, it remains relatively undefined, unevaluated and underutilized in the field of public health. While individual studies indicate the utility of the environmental scan for public health, it is difficult to find a theoretical framework or guidelines on how to design, implement or evaluate the process within public health practice. The purpose of this study was to elicit lessons learned to maximize the utility of the environmental scan as a tool for public health. This process occurred through the development and implementation of an environmental scan as part of the needs-assessment phase of a project to increase cancer screening among African Americans in Baltimore, MD. Data collection methods for the environmental scan included a review of community stakeholders, cancer incidence and community assets and liabilities in target communities, focus-group sessions and key informant interviews with service providers. The environmental scan was conducted in 2003 and allowed for rapid acquisition and use of information about events, trends and relationships in the neighborhoods targeted for our project and enabled researchers to move forward with implementing the cancer-screening project. The researchers conclude that the environmental scan has considerable potential to be a creative, responsive, cost-effective and mobilizing tool for public health practice. However, further application and critical review are necessary to make it a more effective public health tool and an established research methodology.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genomics and public health practice: a survey of nurses in local health departments in North Carolina.

In order to examine the extent to which current public health practices incorporate information about genetic susceptibilities potentially obtained by a comprehensive family history, public health nurses in North Carolina were surveyed to assess the extent to which this information is routinely collected. In addition, we measured nurses' awareness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Genomic Competencies and assessed training needs related to genomics. A self-administered survey was distributed to all public health nurse supervisors, directors, consultants as well as Breast and Cervical Cancer Coordination Program managers in North Carolina. A 68.4% response rate (292/427) was obtained. The majority (88.7%) of nurses with regular patient contact report routine gathering of family history data for adult chronic diseases. Some key family history data components are routinely collected including the total number of affected relatives (76%), ethnicity information (57.5%), and age of chronic disease onset (31.8%). A minority of nurses (9%) reported awareness of the Genomic Competencies, and most (72.1%) acknowledged their need for training in order to achieve these competencies. Information collected by taking a family history can indicate a combination of genetic and environmental susceptibilities for chronic diseases.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Utility of qualitative research findings in evidence-based public health practice.

Epidemiological data, derived from quantitative studies, provide important information about the causes, prevalence, risk correlates, treatment and prevention of diseases, and health issues at a population level. However, public health issues are complex in nature and quantitative research findings are insufficient to support practitioners and administrators in making evidence-informed decisions. Upshur's Synthetic Model of Evidence (2001) situates qualitative research findings as a credible source of evidence for public health practice. This article answers the following questions: (1) where does qualitative research fit within the paradigm of evidence-based practice and (2) how can qualitative research be used by public health professionals? Strategies for using qualitative research findings instrumentally, conceptually, and symbolically are identified by applying Estabrooks' (1999) conceptual structure of research utilization. Different research utilization strategies are illustrated through the use of research examples from the field of work on intimate partner violence against women. Recommendations for qualitative researchers disseminating findings and for public health practitioners/policy makers considering the use of qualitative findings as evidence to inform decisions are provided.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2005

The asthma consultative process: a collaborative approach to integrating genomics into public health practice.

Genomics research findings on asthma are reported with increasing frequency. As these findings are incorporated into existing knowledge of disease etiology and pathogenesis, the implications for public health practice need to be considered. In 2003, the University of Washington Center for Genomics and Public Health initiated a project to synthesize information about asthma genomics, to examine its relevance to public health research and practice, and to communicate findings to a public health practice audience. This goal was achieved through review of the scientific literature, formation of a working group, and consultations with professionals and community organizations. This paper describes the methods used to conduct these professional and community consultations, referred to as the asthma consultative process, and discusses the lessons learned from this activity.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A public health nursing practice model: melding public health principles with the nursing process.

There has been a shift in emphasis in public health from the provision of personal health services for individuals to efforts targeted at improving the health of the whole community. Many in public health nursing (PHN) have welcomed this shift, recognizing the important role PHN can play in promoting health and preventing disease for all. There continues to be a need to redefine PHN roles and practice so that public health nurses can participate more effectively. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Public Health Nursing (LAC PHN) has developed a practice model grounded in nationally recognized components: the public health team, PHN standards of practice, the 10 Essential Public Health Services, Healthy People 2010's 10 Leading Health Indicators and additional local indicators, and the Minnesota Public Health Nursing Interventions Model. The LAC PHN Practice Model provides a conceptual framework that assists in clarifying the role of the public health nurse and presents a guide for public health practice applicable to all public health disciplines.

Community Health Planning↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of foldback analysis to foster consolidation between academic and public health practice.

INTRODUCTION: Departments of health can provide applied settings for students from academic public health programs to explore the connection of course work to real-life circumstances. Barriers exist for public health practitioners, however, that restrict their willingness to engage in joint efforts with academe. To address these barriers, they must be identified and characterized. That is, it is important for academics in public health to respect both barrier-issues and to understand underlying value constructs, if they hope to employ public health practice settings to advance their students' training. METHODS: A 100% sample of all midmanagers was surveyed at the Hawaii Department of Health by the School of Public Health. Nine clusters of "key issues for continued collaboration" were identified and rank-ordered in importance. Further analysis of the rank-orders, using multidimensional scaling, distinguished important underlying value constructs crucial to improving joint activities between the school and department. RESULTS: Working together, representatives from the Department and School identified the first three value dimensions as cooperation, implying the need for true reciprocal and equal interaction; obligation, signifying mutual responsibility and parallel investment; and, professional practice, suggesting the balanced interdigitation of research with practice. These value dimensions account for three fifths (58%) of the variance in opinion. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed analysis of these dimensions suggests that low-cost strategies improve collaboration, and foster possible consolidation, between academic and clinical public health settings. A stronger partnership between the school and the department is likely, provided the two agencies can address these issues satisfactorily. Insights from the Hawaii experience may prove useful to other academic public health practice settings. Recommendations that may improve collaboration include holding joint semi-annual meetings, a school bulletin board listing practica at the department, a public health leadership course, improved electronic communications between the school and the department, joint appointments to the two agencies, faculty release time to conduct research to improve practices at the department, and the establishment of a steering committee for the collaboration.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2000

Toward a new paradigm for public health practice and academic partnerships.

Despite substantial progress in establishing academic and public health partnerships over the past 20 years, two questions require further examination: (1) How are the most effective partnerships achieved? and (2) How well are these partnerships suited to the current and future problems of public health? The authors propose the "new public health" perspective, which offers challenges to develop a dialogue and power relationships among partners based on symmetry rather than conventional asymmetry. New forms of discourse and benchmarking of progress in improving the health of the public may be achieved by adopting this paradigm.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed1988

[Utilization of advances of oncology in public health practice].

A concise review of the literature available on applications of medical research findings in the practice of health care is presented. Further efforts aimed at integration of oncological research results with practice are recommended. More prominence should be given to the work of those who are responsible for this activity at the level of leading research organizations; in particular, they should focus on promoting the results of individual research. To aid reporting on the available results, the existing Express-Information release, and, specifically, its section Integration of Medical Research Results with Practice of Public Health Care should be modified. The suggested procedures of reporting may be effectively used in all branches of medicine.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A strategy for measuring local public health practice.

The national health objectives for the year 2000 call for 90% of the population to be served by a local health department (LHD) that is effectively addressing the core functions of public health. Achieving this objective requires approved definitions for effectiveness as well as a system for ascertainment. In 1990 when this objective was established, no baseline data were available, and no accepted methods of measuring health department effectiveness were in use. Our approach to the development of a surveillance system to measure the effectiveness of LHDs has been to translate the three core public health functions characterized by the Institute of Medicine and the 10 practices delineated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the national public health practice organizations into practice performance measures that could be judged as met or not met at the level of a jurisdiction served by a LHD. As part of our effort to develop a surveillance system to measure local public health practice, performance measures that characterize the 10 public health practices and their related core functions were developed and field-tested with state local health liaison officials and local health departments over a two-year period. Obtaining input from these sources is essential to establishing their validity and is a critical aspect of building nationwide consensus for appropriate measures of effective local public health practice. The results of these efforts led to the establishment of a proposed surveillance instrument comprising 10 performance standards and 29 associated indicators. We describe two approaches to its use.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed2005

Why do nurses enter community and public health practice?

Current policy places much emphasis on public health and care outside hospital. To provide this requires a qualified work force but a large number of community nurses are approaching retirement. While there is a commitment to recruit and retain such nurses, there is little information available on community nurses' career trajectories, or on why staff choose to work in the community and why they undertake community specialist practice (CSP) programmes. This paper reports the findings of a survey of community specialist practice students--community children's nurses (CCNs), community mental health nurses (CMHNs) district nurses (DNs), health visitors (HVs), practice nurses (PNs), school nurses (SNs)--in a large London based programme. They were asked why they had entered community practice and why they had undertaken a community specialist practice programme. Findings were not categorical; the reasons for entering community work included increased initiative, more autonomy and preferred hours. Scope for initiative, autonomy and increased independence were reasons for undertaking the CSP programme, as well as better promotion prospects. Differences were evident in response by age of respondent and by whether they had dependent children. All types of respondents saw themselves as public health practitioners. Practice nurses stood out as different from the others, seeing hours as significant, but not promotion prospects despite expecting higher grades on completion of the programme. The study raises various questions, which could be explored after refinement of the study tool and using students in different locations throughout the country.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Randomised controlled trial of a theoretically grounded tailored intervention to diffuse evidence-based public health practice [ISRCTN23257060].

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that Norwegian public health physicians do not systematically and explicitly use scientific evidence in their practice. They work in an environment that does not encourage the integration of this information in decision-making. In this study we investigate whether a theoretically grounded tailored intervention to diffuse evidence-based public health practice increases the physicians' use of research information. METHODS: 148 self-selected public health physicians were randomised to an intervention group (n = 73) and a control group (n = 75). The intervention group received a multifaceted intervention while the control group received a letter declaring that they had access to library services. Baseline assessments before the intervention and post-testing immediately at the end of a 1.5-year intervention period were conducted. The intervention was theoretically based and consisted of a workshop in evidence-based public health, a newsletter, access to a specially designed information service, to relevant databases, and to an electronic discussion list. The main outcome measure was behaviour as measured by the use of research in different documents. RESULTS: The intervention did not demonstrate any evidence of effects on the objective behaviour outcomes. We found, however, a statistical significant difference between the two groups for both knowledge scores: Mean difference of 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2-0.6) in the score for knowledge about EBM-resources and mean difference of 0.2 (95% CI: 0.0-0.3) in the score for conceptual knowledge of importance for critical appraisal. There were no statistical significant differences in attitude-, self-efficacy-, decision-to-adopt- or job-satisfaction scales. There were no significant differences in Cochrane library searching after controlling for baseline values and characteristics. CONCLUSION: Though demonstrating effect on knowledge the study failed to provide support for the hypothesis that a theory-based multifaceted intervention targeted at identified barriers will change professional behaviour.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMed2006

Ethical issues in epidemiologic research and public health practice.

A rich and growing body of literature has emerged on ethics in epidemiologic research and public health practice. Recent articles have included conceptual frameworks of public health ethics and overviews of historical developments in the field. Several important topics in public health ethics have also been highlighted. Attention to ethical issues can facilitate the effective planning, implementation, and growth of a variety of public health programs and research activities. Public health ethics is consistent with the prevention orientation of public health. Ethical concerns can be anticipated or identified early and effectively addressed through careful analysis and consultation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Prevention and control of coronary heart disease and stroke--nomenclature for prevention approaches in public health: a statement for public health practice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Successful prevention and control of coronary heart disease and stroke requires extensive collaboration and strategic partnerships with many health and non-health-related organizations and agencies in the voluntary, public, and private sectors. To assure a common language and purpose and to facilitate communication in these multiple settings, a simplified classification of prevention levels for public health practice is essential. This statement proposes three levels of prevention (health promotion, primary prevention, and secondary prevention) as a guide for public health practice. This statement is also intended to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and research initiatives that address the prevention and control of coronary heart disease and stroke, and to enhance communication and dialogue among health professionals, policymakers, and the public.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗