The Delivery of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Services; Public Health or Primary Care Settings?

Lene Bjørn Jensen,Irena Lukic,Gabriel Gulis

doi:10.3390/healthcare6020042

Lene Bjørn Jensen, Irena Lukic + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6020042

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Journal: Healthcare	Publication Date: May 7, 2018
Citations: 6	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark

Abstract

The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed a set of public health functions resulting in the ten Essential Public Health Operations (EPHO). Public health or primary care settings seem to be favorable to embrace all actions included into EPHOs. The presented paper aims to guide readers on how to assign individual health promotion and environmental health services to public health or primary care settings. Survey tools were developed based on EPHO 2, 3 and 4; there were six key informant surveys out of 18 contacted completed via e-mails by informants working in Denmark on health promotion and five face-to-face interviews were conducted in Australia (Melbourne and Victoria state) with experts from environmental health, public health and a physician. Based on interviews, we developed a set of indicators to support the assignment process. Population or individual focus, a system approach or one-to-one approach, dealing with hazards or dealing with effects, being proactive or reactive were identified as main element of the decision tool. Assignment of public health services to one of two settings proved to be possible in some cases, whereas in many there is no clear distinction between the two settings. National context might be the one which guides delivery of public health services.

Highlights

To identify the most important public health services and activities, several “essential public health functions” have been suggested over the years
In 1997, an international Delphi study produced a set of essential public health functions [1], which were modified by the Pan American Health Organization and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific [2]
The health promotion services that could be provided in agreement of respondents in primary care constituted of nine services

Summary

Introduction

To identify the most important public health services and activities, several “essential public health functions” have been suggested over the years. In 1997, an international Delphi study produced a set of essential public health functions [1], which were modified by the Pan American Health Organization and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific [2]. Adjustments to these essential public health functions have been developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO EURO) and resulted in the ten Essential Public Health Operations (EPHO) [3], as follows: Surveillance of population health and well-being. Health protection, including environmental, occupational, food safety, and others.

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