Health Promotion Issues Research Articles

Social prescribing in Canada: health promotion in action, 50 years after the Lalonde report.

The Lalonde report, published in 1974 by the Canadian Minister of National Health and Welfare, broke ground for public health in Canada by acknowledging that the determinants of health are much broader than health care services. Fifty years later, this special issue of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada charts a clear path towards addressing upstream determinants of health through an emerging intervention called "social prescribing." Social prescribing connects patients with community resources tailored to their individual priorities, fostering a paradigm shift from a deficitbased to a strengths-based approach in health promotion. Part 1 of this issue covers the rapid growth and diverse applications of social prescribing across Canada, with targeted initiatives for various populations and interventions ranging from nature and arts to physical activity and social connectivity. Contributions from a wide range of partners, including researchers, health professionals and community members, explore the adaptability of social prescribing for different groups, underscore the role of community and lived experiences in research, and call for more studies on social prescribing's effectiveness and outcomes. Highlighted case studies demonstrate tangible benefits in health equity and access to social services. This issue not only reflects the current scope and impact of social prescribing in Canada but also sets the stage for its future development and integration into broader health practices.

Overview of the ten global conferences on health promotion and implications for future work

Since 1986, the WHO has held ten global health promotion conferences covering various health promotion issues and sustainable development worldwide. These sessions have formed a series of consensus and actions that guide promoting health globally. This study analyzed the declarations, reports, and news materials from the ten conferences that studied health promotion action areas, focal topics, actor networks, partnership relationships, and other significant outcomes. It also explored how these conferences contributed to the construction and advancement of global health promotion consensus and actions. The first Global Conference on Health Promotion identified the concept of health promotion and five key action areas, laying the foundation for subsequent conferences and health promotion actions. Over the years, the ten conferences continuously expanded the essence of health promotion, developed partnership relationships, formulated public health promotion policies, and called for health promotion actions. This process culminated in the formation of global consensus and collective actions. The latter conferences have gained significant attention and influence. The conferences offer valuable insights for future global health promotion endeavors and provide global perspectives and pathways for the development of Healthy China.

Research journey of sports promotion: A bibliometric analysis

Background: Research on exercise and health promotion has grown significantly, indicating an increasing interest in physical fitness and healthy living among people. Purpose: This study aimed to to provide a comprehensive overview of research on health and sports promotion, identify the field, identify prominent papers and academics, and use keyword analysis to determine the thematic focus. This research hoped to contribute to understanding the emerging dynamics in this interdisciplinary sector. Methods: Bibliometric methods analyse data sets that include publication trends, author information, countries, and newly discovered keywords. This analysis used VOSviewer bibliometric analysis software. The data analysed was 1,850 documents. Results: The results showed a steady increase in publications on sports, physical exercise, and health promotion issues. The reputable publications are those in the “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” and “BMC Public Health”. Key phrases, such as “physical activity” and “health promotion” dominate the themes, with the United States and the United Kingdom emerging as important contributors. Conclusion: This study highlighted notable researchers, important sources, and concentrations of subjects in health and exercised promotion research, which underscored its dynamic nature. The knowledge gathered from this bibliometric research contributed to a more complex understanding of this interdisciplinary field’s changing goals and trends. Implications: Thematic concentration and identifying important articles can inspire evidence-based strategies for global health and physical activity promotion, international collaboration, and future research orientation.

Różnice we wdrażaniu zasad promocji zdrowia w szkołach w czasie pandemii COVID-19. Rozważania oparte na badaniach przeprowadzonych wśród dyrektorów polskich szkół

During the coronavirus pandemic, health promotion became crucial for preventing COVID-19 disease and mitigating its consequences. Implementing health promotion principles was particularly essential in educational settings, where the possibility of infection was high. Simultaneously, only limited empirical studies have addressed school principals’ perspectives on implementing health promotion issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aims to examine the differences in implementing health promotion principles in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results come from an online cross-sectional survey conducted in eight provinces of Poland from June to December 2021. The study was part of a global school principal health literacy survey under the COVID-HL Network. Research results have shown that schools in the Health Promoting Schools network tend to implement the whole-school approach to health more often. In addition, the longer the school belongs to the network, the more health promotion activities are implemented. It can be assumed that school principals play a crucial role in implementing health promotion principles in schools. Therefore, their health awareness and interest in health matters are essential for effectively promoting health in schools.

AGING AND GERIATRIC CARE: A GLOBAL IMPERATIVE TOWARDS UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

The global population of older people is projected to surpass the number of children under 5 years old and adolescents by 2050, with developing countries housing the majority of older individuals. This demographic shift necessitates adjustments in global health systems to cater to the increasing demand for age-appropriate care. Gerontology, as an interdisciplinary field, encompasses the study of biological, social, and medical aspects of aging. Anti-aging, a distinct discipline, focuses on understanding and combatting age-related ailments. This review provides insights into the distinctive aspects of anti-aging research, highlights current priority issues in health promotion and anti-aging measures, and explores implications of crises on aging research and healthcare. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for collaboration among interdisciplinary research networks, integration of science and technology, and the involvement of key stakeholders to ensure universal health coverage. Future research should address the multidimensional aspects of healthy aging, reflect research priorities and preferences of older individuals, and promote health equity. This collective effort will contribute to the development of innovative solutions and facilitate cross-learning among countries to enhance the well-being of aging populations globally.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Opportunities in Health Education (HE) in a mandatory social isolation context.

Background:Routine care for prevention and health promotion has reduced significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and mandatory social isolation measures. In this context, it is necessary to identify and describe Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that provide opportunities for health education, promotion, and prevention aimed at the general population. The study is a systematic review of MOOCs on health education, health promotion, and prevention for the general population in a pandemic context. Methods: We developed a search for MOOC courses aimed at the general population on health education, health promotion, and prevention in different available MOOC platforms. We executed a descriptive analysis of the main characteristics of the selected MOOCs. Results: There were 117 MOOCs chosen on health education, promotion, and prevention for the general population. Coursera (40.3%) was the platform that offered the highest quantity of MOOCs; more than half of the MOOCs were in English (52.9%). The median (interquartile range) duration of the selected MOOCs was 11 (6-15) hours. The predominant themes were "Health promotion" (43%) and "Food and nutrition" (31%), and the origin was mainly from Europe (37.8%). Conclusions: MOOC offerings in health education are diverse, predominantly in English, of European origin, and in health promotion issues. This study opens an opportunity to multiply initiatives in different territories, considering other languages and topics more akin to each territorial reality, allowing it to be a more equitable learning opportunity in times of pandemic and compulsory social isolation.

Hope, Coping and Eco-Anxiety: Young People's Mental Health in a Climate-Impacted Australia.

(1) Background: In Australia, young people are one of the most vulnerable populations to the mental health impacts of climate change. The aim of this article was to explore mental health promotion issues related to climate change for young people in Australia. (2) Methods: An exploratory mixed-method approach, co-led by young people, was used to engage young people living in Australia aged 18–24 years in semi-structured interviews (N = 14) and an online survey (N = 46). Data were analysed thematically and with descriptive statistics. (3) Results: Findings indicated that negative impacts included worry, eco-anxiety, stress, hopelessness/powerlessness and feelings of not having a voice. Several mediating factors, in particular social media engagement, highlighted the duality of mental health impacts for young people’s mental health. Positive impacts of climate action included feeling optimistic and in control. (4) Conclusions: This exploratory study contributes to an emerging field of public health research on young people’s mental health in a climate-impacted Australia. Climate change is a significant concern for young people, and it can negatively affect their mental health. The findings can inform the design of public health interventions that raise awareness of climate change-related mental health issues among young people and promote their participation in nature-based interventions, climate action and empowering social media engagement.

Overview of the implemented in Moscow state programs in the public health field

Introduction. Public health measures are implemented in accordance with the essential public health operations (EPHO). The EPHO tool can be used not only as a guide for assessing the potential of public health, but also to identify actions needed to strengthen and improve public health. As part of the self-assessment of the performance of operational functions of public health in Moscow, strategic documents in the interests of health and well-being implemented in Moscow (EPHO 6) were studied and a review of state programs implemented by executive authorities was conducted. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of legal sources, regulatory legal acts, projects implemented by the executive authorities of Moscow, which are co-executors of the Regional Program for Strengthening Public Health. Results. State programs implemented by co-executors are an important tool that allows to combine the resources of stakeholders in addressing health promotion issues. It is possible to use the development and implementation of state programs as a search for new methods of solving tasks in the field of health promotion; coordination of goals, development of mechanisms of interdepartmental interaction for the formation of a public health system in Moscow.

The Knowledge of Female Students Regarding the Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccines at a Selected University in South Africa

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the viruses that causes high mortality rates worldwide, and if not detected and treated early, it may lead to fatal complications such as cervical cancer and breast cancer. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of female students regarding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccines at a selected University in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative approach was adopted in this cross-sectional descriptive study. The target population was all female students residing in the university residences on campus, and a sample size of 310 students was determined. A systematic sampling technique was used to select the rooms of students, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 26, and results were presented in the form of frequency and percentages. Results: Out of the 310 respondents, 56.8% had never heard about the HPV, while 43.2% had heard about the HPV and its vaccines. The majority (82.9%) of the respondents were uncertain about the two HPV vaccines available in South Africa, while only 1.9% of the respondents knew that anal cancer is one of the health problems related to HPV. The results of the study further showed that 56.8% of the respondents did not know whether the HPV vaccines prevented cervical cancer or not, while only 6.1% disagreed that the HPV vaccines prevented cervical cancer. Conclusion: The study concludes that the female students at the selected university had insufficient knowledge regarding HPV and its vaccines. Since cervical cancer is one of the major causes of death in low and middle-income countries, knowledge regarding HPV and its vaccines is crucial, especially among the young generation, in order to promote the effective prevention of cervical cancer. Community and university radios should have programs about health promotion issues informing the communities about HPV and its vaccines.

A scientific rationale for making changes to the law that governs cross-sectoral collaboration on the issues of public health

Introduction. Interaction between different government sectors and society on the issues of public health and health promotion is not often sustainable. It has mostly a piecemeal and declarative approach. The aspects of this interaction are both not scientifically founded and adequately fixed in the legislation The aim of the study is to establish scientific rationale and to develop proposals for changes to the law that governs cross-sectoral collaboration on the issues of public health. Material and methods. A review and analysis of scientific literature and current federal and regional laws that govern healthcare industry tools and strategies were conducted. The study was undertaken in the Saratov region, which is a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, to study the following aspects of health care industry in the region: socioeconomic impact of the region on medical and social programs; health promotion activities of legislative and executive branches of the government, cross-sectoral Coordinating Councils, the department of Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare), and the Center for Medical Preventive Measures. Health status and life style, preventive medical measures at 92 organizations, the results of anonymous questionnaire survey of more than 10,000 respondents (general public, healthcare industry officials, experts) were also analyzed. The obtained results have provided the underlying rationale for proposing changes to the legislation managing public health. Results. Technique for optimization of cross-sectoral collaboration for assessment of health promotion activities has been developed and tested. This technique is based on the impact of 23 identified sectors on both the determinants of health (37 of them were established) and the simple and complex informative vectors of computer-controlled system of assessment of health promotion activities and other results of the study. The technique was instrumental in proposing changes to the law, which governs the issues of public health. The changes proposed concern the determination of health promotion, its guidelines, organizational principles, assessment, and quality control. Conclusion. The study results provide the authors with the possibility to scientifically substantiate the necessity in making changes to the current legislation managing public health and developing improvement proposals.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Opportunities in Health Education (HE) in a mandatory social isolation context

Background: Routine care for prevention and health promotion has reduced significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and mandatory social isolation measures. In this context, it is necessary to identify and describe Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that provide opportunities for health education, promotion, and prevention aimed at the general population. The study is a systematic review of MOOCs on health education, health promotion, and prevention for the general population in a pandemic context. Methods: We developed a search for MOOC courses aimed at the general population on health education, health promotion, and prevention in different available MOOC platforms. We executed a descriptive analysis of the main characteristics of the selected MOOCs. Results: There were 117 MOOCs chosen on health education, promotion, and prevention for the general population. Coursera (40.3%) was the platform that offered the highest quantity of MOOCs; more than half of the MOOCs were in English (52.9%). The median (interquartile range) duration of the selected MOOCs was 11 (6–15) hours. The predominant themes were "Health promotion" (43%) and "Food and nutrition" (31%), and the origin was mainly from Europe (37.8%). Conclusions: MOOC offerings in health education are diverse, predominantly in English, of European origin, and in health promotion issues. This study opens an opportunity to multiply initiatives in different territories, considering other languages and topics more akin to each territorial reality, allowing it to be a more equitable learning opportunity in times of pandemic and compulsory social isolation.

Promoción de la salud: una mirada crítica a sus antecedentes y al rol de los profesionales de salud

Introducción: Abordar el tema de Promoción de la salud y particularmente sus antecedentes, es un asunto de permanente vigencia, dada su importancia a la luz de las políticas internacionales de salud pública planteadas desde el siglo XX. Para que la Promoción de la Salud se siga fortaleciendo, se requiere de la creación de condiciones favorables a la salud en lo cual los profesionales de la salud juegan un rol trascendental, que pasa por su formación académica, continuando con su desempeño profesional y participación ciudadana.
 Objetivo: Presentar una revisión crítica de los antecedentes de la promoción de la salud y del rol de los profesionales de la salud en su desarrollo.
 Método: Se realizó una revisión de artículos, libros y documentos oficiales de organismos internacionales de salud, publicados en español y en inglés. Se usaron en español e inglés, los términos “promoción de la salud”, “personal de salud” y “salud pública”. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron PubMed, SciELO y Science Direct.
 Conclusiones: Los hallazgos muestran cómo la Promoción de la salud ha estado enmarcada en críticas y debates desde su origen, lo que demuestra su importancia y vigencia en el tiempo; los profesionales de la salud como actores principales en la promoción de la salud, deben recibir desde su formación las bases necesarias para su aplicación profesional y personal.

Pilot action within the framework of the Mig-HealthCare project - implementation of community-based pilot studies addressing health inequalities of migrants and refugees

Abstract In the framework of the Mig-HealthCare project, a roadmap to community-based health care was developed including a toolbox and an algorithm. The Mig-HealthCare partners piloted parts of the roadmap in 8 EU countries. Piloting included actions on health promotion issues for migrants/refugees, mental health issues, non-communicable diseases, screening for breast and cervical cancer and vaccination issues. Two recommended practices were also piloted among migrants/refugees namely the 'circle of health' and health mentors while the Greek partner tested the developed algorithm in various health settings. All pilots were evaluated using common and pilot specific indicators for (a) appropriateness: the extent to which the piloted interventions were suitable for the target groups (service providers and/or migrants/refugees) (b) effectiveness: the extent to which the pilots' objectives were achieved, or are expected to be achieved, taking into account their relative importance (c) satisfaction: the extent to which pilots meet or surpass target groups and stakeholders (refugee/migrants, service providers and local population) expectation and needs (d) sustainability: the continuation of benefits from the pilot. Sustainability in the pilot implementation context is the ability of key target groups to sustain pilot benefits. Moreover, the impact of the interventions and their results should be sustainable in time. The impact of the pilots on the study population as well as implications for community-level health services are discussed.

Health promotion in enterprises counteracting the consequences of workforce ageing. How does it differ from interventions in other companies and what kind of barriers does it face?

The aim of the article is to address the question of whether companies implementing personnel's health promotion to counteract the consequences of workforce ageing differ in their health-related activities from enterprises not having such a motivation. The analyzed differences concern the frequency of implementing and evaluating selected health promotion interventions, assessing employees' health needs and expectations, managers' interest in population ageing, and other motives of health promotion implementation. Moreover, obstacles to health promotion in the context of ageing are analyzed. Directions of supporting enterprises in diminishing the consequences of this demographic process via health promotion are recommended. Quantitative analysis: standardized computer-assisted personal interviews with representatives of management boards (October- November 2017). Sample: 940 companies from Poland implementing health promotion activities (including 424 organizations willing przedsięwzięto counteract the consequences of workforce ageing), selected from a representative sample of 1000 enterprises employing ≥50 people. Qualitative analysis: focus groups interviews (FGIs) with employers concerning their attitudes to managing personnel's health in the context of population ageing (March 2017). Sample: 64 respondents in 8 FGIs. Companies promoting employees' health to diminish the consequences of workforce ageing more often implement and evaluate most workplace health-related activities, and provide more reasons for promoting personnel's health. Their managers are more often interested in the issue of demographic changes, and they less frequently complain about the obstacles of health promotion implementation. Major obstacles are employers' reluctance or impossibility to pay for health promotion, low managers' awareness/know-how concerning health promotion, insufficient human and infrastructure resources, unfavorable employees' attitudes, and disadvantageous legal/fiscal issues. Companies' willingness to counteract implications of personnel's ageing is conducive to their engagement in health promotion. The dissemination/intensification of workplace health-oriented activities, which fosters minimizing the consequences of demographic changes, requires increasing employers' interest in the issue of population ageing and health promotion as a tool of coping with this problem, facilitating gaining the knowledge of workplace health promotion management by companies' representatives, and diminishing legislative/fiscal barriers to the implementation of workplace health-related activities. Med Pr. 2020;71(3):289-307.

Responsive evaluation of stakeholder dialogue as a worksite health promotion intervention to contribute to the reduction of SEP related health inequalities: a study protocol

BackgroundLarge health inequalities exist in the Netherlands among individuals with a high compared to a low socioeconomic position. Worksite health promotion interventions are considered promising to reduce these inequalities, however, current interventions seem not to have the desired effects. This study proposes ‘moral case deliberation’, a form of stakeholder dialogue on moral dilemmas, as an integrated and inclusive intervention for worksite health promotion. This intervention takes into account three factors that are considered possible underlying causes of low effectiveness of current interventions, namely the lack of deliberate attention to: 1) the diverging values and interests of stakeholders in worksite health promotion, 2) the ethical issues of worksite health promotion, and 3) the connection with the lived experience (lifeworld) of lower SEP employees. Moral case deliberation will help to gain insight in the conflicting values in worksite health promotion, which contributes to the development of a vision for worksite health promotion that is supported by all parties.MethodsThe intervention will be evaluated through Responsive Evaluation, a form of participatory research. Key to Responsive Evaluation is that stakeholders are consulted to determine relevant changes as a result of the intervention. The intervention will be evaluated yearly at both fixed moments (baseline and annual evaluation(s)) and continuously. Mixed methods will be used, including interviews, participatory observations, analyses of HRM-data and short questionnaires. In addition, the intervention will be evaluated economically, on both monetary and non-monetary outcomes.DiscussionThis protocol proposes an innovative intervention and a novel participatory evaluation in the context of worksite health promotion. The study aims to gain understanding in how dialogue on moral dilemmas on health and health promotion can contribute to heightened personal and mutual understanding among stakeholders and practice improvements in the work context. By evaluating the intervention in more than one setting, findings of this study will provide knowledge about how MCD can be adapted to specific work settings and what changes it may lead to in these settings.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register (NRT): NL8051. Registration date: 28/09/2019, retrospectively registered. https://www.trialregister.nl/

Influence of the built environment of Nanjing\u2019s Urban Community on the leisure physical activity of the elderly: an empirical study

BackgroundUrbanization and aging are global phenomena that offer unique challenges in different countries. A supportive environment plays an important role in addressing the issues of health behavioral change and health promotion (e.g., prevent chronic illnesses, promote mental health) among older adults. With the development of the socio-ecological theoretical model, studies on the impact of supportive environments on physical activity have become popular in the public health field in the EU and US. Meanwhile, very few Chinese studies have examined the relationship between built environment features and older adults’ physical activity at the ecological level. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the factors part of the built environment of Nanjing’s communities also influence leisure time physical activity among the elderly.MethodsUsing a socio-ecological model as a theoretical framework, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 399 elderly people from 19 communities in Nanjing, China, using a one-on-one questionnaire to collect data, including participants’ perceived built environment and self-reported physical activity. A multivariate linear regression method was used to analyze the factors influencing their recreational physical activity.ResultsThis study found that compared to older people with low average monthly income, the recreational physical activity of the elderly with average monthly incomes between 1001 and 2000 ¥ (β = 23.31, p < 0.001) and 2001 ¥ or more (β = 21.15, p < 0.001) are significantly higher. After controlling for individual covariates, street connectivity (β = 7.34, p = 0.030) and street pavement slope (β = − 7.72, p = 0.020), we found that two out of ten built environment factors indicators influence their physical activity. The importance of each influencing factor ranked from highest to lowest are monthly average income, street pavement slope, and street connectivity. Other factors were not significantly related to recreational physical activity by the elderly.ConclusionsOlder adults with a high income were more likely to participate in recreational physical activity than those with a low income. In order to positively impact physical activity in older adults and ultimately improve health, policymakers and urban planners need to ensure that street connectivity and street pavement slope are factored into the design and development of the urban environment.

Do the User of Nutrition Information System (SISFORNUTRIMIL) Application Have an Impact on Maternal Eating Behaviour and Pregnancy Outcomes?

Background: In several studies have reported that complications of pregnancy could be indicated by inadequate nutrition during pregnancy. In this regard, some of the pregnant women are limited-time engagement with health professionals, lack resources and education of nutrition, and consume unhealthy food. Often found that pregnant women and family are difficult to estimate nutrient intake in line with dietary targets and guidelines and nutrient reference value.TheNutritionalInformation System (SISFORNUTRIMIL) is an application which helps the pregnant women to estimate nutrient intake and record their food intake.&#x0D; Objectives: The study aims to determine the maternal eating behaviour and pregnancy outcomes measurements.&#x0D; Methods: This study involved two phases. Phase one: Conducting a literature search required engaging in an extensive and systematic search strategy to be able to identify articles related to this study. Step two: this study will randomized control trial (RCT) and allocate participants 1:1 to the SISFORNUTRIMIL application user and non-user application. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of reproductive age (MDD-W) indicators and Adult Behaviour Eating Questionnaire (ABEQ) will be used to identify maternal eating behaviour. In additional, maternal weight gain, blood sample test, and birth weight examination used to measure pregnancy experience and pregnancy outcome.&#x0D; Discussion: Nutrition intervention during pregnancy is an important strategy to improve health pregnancy in reduced the healthcare and health promotion issue. The SISFORNUTRIMIL application for individual preferences for nutrition intervention and optimal pregnancy outcomes, suggesting a need for food intake guidelines that facilitate pregnant women involvement in eating properly. Furthermore, this research as a proper foundation to contribute to decreasing the morbidity and mortality rate.

Discussing issues of health promotion and research in the context of primary care during the ongoing austerity period: an exploratory analysis from two regions in Greece.

BackgroundIn Greece, both Primary Health Care (PHC) system and National Health System (NHS) in general, were plagued by several inefficiencies even prior to the financial crisis; the imposed austerity measures dramatically worsened the level of health provision and access, especially for vulnerable social groups, resulting in an exacerbation of existing disparities and access gaps.Aim and methodsThe current branch study was conducted in two regions of Greece, namely Crete and Epirus, with the main aim of eliciting responses to gather baseline information regarding crucial PHC-related aspects, using questionnaires with dichotomous questions. Directors or managers (physicians who have been assigned administrative/governance duties), of the Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) in two Greek geographic and administrative regions of Crete and Epirus, were invited to participate and to contribute to the investigation of issues on the provision of prevention and health promotion services, e-health topics and primary care research. Thirty directors/managers were approached and twenty-eight agreed to participate. Data processing and analysis of the responses was performed for the completed questionnaires.ResultsData analysis did not demonstrate a surprisingly substantial deviation in the average score of positive responses of directors/managers in the PHCCs of Crete in comparison to those of directors/managers in the PHCCs of Epirus. The findings show that several gaps exist in terms of prevention and health promotion resources and activities in both regions, while e-health, electronic health record (EHR) and telemedicine services are poorly developed.ConclusionThe study confirms that the Greek PHC is characterized by several inefficiencies, which may affect the quality of the services provided. An overall deficit has been emerged for PHCCs in both regions, a fact that indicates crucial points lacking in terms of overall PHC provision, thus adversely impacting upon living conditions, health quality and prevention.

Research in adolescent healthcare: The value of qualitative methods

BackgroundThe vast majority of publications about adolescent healthcare use a quantitative methodology that often involves long and expensive research protocols with results that do not always provide answers adequate to the complexity of the questions being asked. The qualitative method is sometimes a more effective alternative for exploring some of these. This method can be defined from its objective, which is to generate theoretical hypotheses, its mandatory consideration of the researcher's subjectivity, and the importance it ascribes to the context of the participants’ experience. Among the many techniques of qualitative research, the use of phenomenological methods, in particular, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), is highly developed in medical research. ObjectivesTo define the qualitative method and describe the principal stages of a phenomenological qualitative study. ResultsThe three stages of a qualitative study are data collection (population and sampling, data collection methods), data analysis, and writing up the results. Purposive sampling makes it possible to include participants who can describe in detail, and as experts, their experience during semi-structured interviews. The analysis takes place in two stages, the first very descriptive, the second more interpretative. The results are written-up in a narrative form, including both direct quotations from the interviews and the researchers’ interpretation. DiscussionThe issues of health promotion and healthcare associated with the management of chronic symptoms or diseases in adolescents involve an extremely rich and complex context. Qualitative methods make it possible to approach these questions and to understand them better by generating hypotheses from a rigorous scientific procedure appropriate to the context and objectives. In addition to being used on their own, they can be used on an exploratory basis early in a quantitative study to help define it better, for explanatory purposes, to help understand complex quantitative results, or combined with a quantitative study. The qualitative and quantitative results will then be integrated.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS' ADDRESSING TO MEDICAL CARE AT THE STAGE OF DEBUT OF RHEUMATIC GOUT (ACCORDING THE RESULTS OF FOCUS-GROUP EXPERTISE)

The article presents the results of medical sociological study targeted to analyze concepts and motivational attitudes of students of medical universities related to healthy life-style and its components. The results demonstrate that students, though accepting importance of one's health promotion, committed to unhealthy life-style. They even more often refuse from regular exercises and are not enough active in issues of disease prevention and health promotion. The healthy life-style of students of medical universities is rather exclusion than prevalent practice.