Population-based public health nursing practice (intervention wheel) and instances from Turkey

Abstract

The idea of Intervention Wheel is originally proposed by Keller, Strohschein, Lia-Hoaberg, and Schaffer in 1998. The Intervention Wheel is a population-based practice model which is evidence-supported. It focuses on entire populations, is grounded in community assessment, considers determinants of health, emphasizes prevention, and intervenes at multiple levels. The model includes three levels of practice and identifies 17 public health interventions. Interventions are the steps taken on behalf of the communities, systems, individuals or families for improvement or protection of health conditions. Individual/family focus modified the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, practices and behaviors of the individuals and family members, Community Focus modifies norms, attitudes, awareness, practices and behaviors, Systems Focus modifies policies, laws and power structures. 17 Public Health Interventions are: Surveillance, Investigation of Diseases and Other Health Events, Outreach, Screening, Case Finding, Referral and follow-up, Case Management, Delegated Functions, Health teaching, Counseling, Consultation, Collaboration, Coalition building, Community Organizing, Advocacy, Social Marketing, Policy Development and Policy enforcement. The Intervention Wheel is a simple and comprehensive model for directing the health improvement practices and practices of the public health nursing. Because of the structural transformation in the healthcare system in Turkey since 2004, utilization of the intervention wheel in public health education and practice fields will be useful for evaluating data and developing new and measurable common strategies.