Health Promotion Project Research Articles

Tryptophan metabolism and small fibre neuropathy: a correlation study.

Small nerve fibres located in the epidermis sense pain. Dysfunction of these fibres decreases the pain threshold known as small fibre neuropathy. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by metabolic changes other than glucose, synergistically eliciting small fibre neuropathy. These findings suggest that various metabolic changes may be involved in small fibre neuropathy. Herein, we explored the correlation between pain sensation and changes in plasma metabolites in healthy Japanese subjects. The pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation was used to quantify pain sensation in a total of 1021 individuals in the 2017 Iwaki Health Promotion Project. Participants with a pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index <0.20 mA were categorized into the pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index-low group (n = 751); otherwise, they were categorized into the pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index-high group (n = 270). Metabolome analysis of plasma was conducted using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The metabolite set enrichment analysis revealed that the metabolism of tryptophan was significantly correlated with the pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index in all participants (P < 0.05). The normalized level of tryptophan was significantly decreased in participants with a high pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index. In addition to univariate linear regression analyses, the correlation between tryptophan concentration and the pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index remained significant after adjustment for multiple factors (β = -0.07615, P < 0.05). These findings indicate that specific metabolic changes are involved in the deterioration of pain thresholds. Here, we show that abnormal tryptophan metabolism is significantly correlated with an elevated pain threshold evaluated from the intraepidermal electrical stimulation index in the Japanese population. This correlation provides insight into the pathology and clinical application of small fibre neuropathy.

Registered nurses' perceptions of healthy lifestyle counselling for immigrants in primary healthcare: A focus group study.

The use of primary healthcare and health promotion services is low among immigrants compared with native citizens. Immigrants are at risk of developing chronic diseases due to genetics, nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. Registered nurses play an integral role in teaching, counselling for a healthy lifestyle and care coordination in primary healthcare. We aimed to explore the perceptions of registered nurses on healthy lifestyle counselling for preventing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases among immigrants in the primary healthcare setting. We performed a qualitative descriptive study using focus group interviews. Data were collected with semi-structured focus group interviews with a total of 23 registered nurses working in primary healthcare. We recruited the participants by using the purposive sampling method in the primary healthcare setting of four municipalities in Finland. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed with qualitative inductive content analysis. The participants' perceptions were related to (1) uniform counselling practice for both immigrants and native citizens, (2) challenges in counselling immigrants, (3) understanding cultural factors influencing immigrant counselling, (4) the need to improve immigrant counselling and (5) utilizing insights from practical experience to improve the counselling service. Developing a culturally sensitive health promotion service is suggested to support the health of immigrants. Moreover, both migrant communities and healthcare professionals should be involved in co-designing and implementing health promotion projects through a community-based participatory approach. Our study contributes to healthcare practice and management by underscoring the need for culturally tailored health promotion services for the at-risk group of immigrants in primary healthcare. Cultural competence in nursing education needs to be reinforced. The provided recommendations inform researchers and policymakers about the health disparities and health needs of immigrants. Healthcare professionals were consulted in the study design.

¿Cómo mejoramos la participación comunitaria en salud? Análisis de las acciones propuestas tras la aplicación de una herramienta de evaluación

ObjectiveTo analyse the lines of action identified in the health promotion projects participating in the EvaluA GPS research, and their relationship with the scores assigned in EvalGuia, a tool for evaluating evidence-based community participation. DesignQualitative-quantitative multicentre study. SettingPrimary care or intersectoral network of primary care and municipalities in five autonomous communities in Spain. ParticipantsParticipants of 10 health promotion projects, selected with convenience sampling, following inclusion criteria (projects with a minimum of community engagement and centred on community health). MethodData were collected through questionnaires (EvalGuía tool) and participatory workshops. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics, qualitative data were analysed using matrix analysis. ResultsAfter implementing the EvalGuide tool, the lowest scores were assigned in outcome evaluation, knowledge of policies related to community participation, diversity in the core working group, inclusivity policies, financial resources and diffusion of results. The lines of action proposed were heterogeneous and did not always match with those prioritised as lower score. The prioritised lines revolved around project organisation and communication. ConclusionsThe EvalGuide tool can be helpful to design action plans in Health Promotion projects. The implementation of measures in 12 months to increase the diversity of the core working group, to incorporate work–life balance measures or to improve evaluation is difficult. More time is needed to implement such measures.

Association between oral frailty and lower urinary tract symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in community-dwelling individuals: a cross-sectional study.

We assessed the association between oral frailty risk and LUTS among middle-aged and older adults in a community-dwelling population. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 586 subjects aged ≥ 40years who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in Hirosaki, Japan. We used the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) to assess LUTS. LUTS was defined as an IPSS score of 8 or higher or meeting diagnostic criteria for OAB. Oral frailty risk was defined as experiencing two or more of the following: decreased chewing ability, decreased biting force, and dry mouth sensation. Physical performance (10-m gait speed and grip strength) was used for analysis. The association between oral frailty risk and LUTS was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study included 218 men and 370 women, of whom 140 had LUTS. The mean age of this cohort was 59years. Significant differences were observed between the LUTS and non-LUTS groups, including age, hypertension, history of CVD, depressive status, sleep disturbance, and 10m gait speed. The prevalence of oral frailty risk was significantly higher in the LUTS group than in the non-LUTS group (26% vs. 11%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, male gender, and oral frailty risk (odds ratio: 2.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.57-4.51, P < 0.001) were independent factors for LUTS. Moreover, oral frailty risk was an independent factor in both participants aged < 65years and participants aged ≥ 65years. Oral frailty was independently associated with LUTS.

Trends of Gaps Between Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy at the Regional Level in Korea Using a Group-Based Multi-Trajectory Modeling Approach (2008-2019).

Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) is an indicator of the average lifespan in good health. Through this study, we aimed to identify regional disparities in the gap between HALE and life expectancy, considering the trends that have changed over time in Korea. We employed a group-based multi-trajectory modeling approach to capture trends in the gap between HALE and life expectancy at the regional level from 2008 to 2019. HALE was calculated using incidence-based "years lived with disability." This methodology was also employed in the Korean National Burden of Disease Study. Based on five different information criteria, the most fitted number of trajectory groups was seven, with at least 11 regions in each group. Among the seven groups, one had an exceptionally large gap between HALE and life expectancy compared to that of the others. This group was assigned to 17 regions, of which six were metropolitan cities. Based on the results of this study, we identified regions in which health levels have deteriorated over time, particularly within specific areas of metropolitan cities. These findings can be used to design comprehensive policy interventions for community health promotion and urban regeneration projects in the future.

A community health promotion project: Amazing Race for Heart Health.

American Indians have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), likely due to disproportionate burden of diabetes and limited access to widespread CVD prevention programs such as Honoring the Gift of Heart Health (HGHH), a 10-week CVD risk factor awareness curriculum. Due to its length, HGHH may be difficult to complete; therefore, we aimed to evaluate a shortened CVD risk factor awareness program based on the HGHH educational materials for American Indians residing in southwest Oklahoma, entitled "The Amazing Race for Heart Health." We conducted an interventional study where each participant served as their own control (n = 61), with pre- and post-intervention measurements. We included American Indians from seven tribal nations in southwest Oklahoma. At two interventional meetings we used educational materials and activities from HGHH focusing on nutrition, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, physical activity, and heart attack warning signs. McNemar's test was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention on raising CVD risk factor awareness. When comparing the pre- and post-survey responses, the percentage of correct responses either stayed the same or increased. Knowledge improved in 11/25 (44%, p < 0.05) domains including the difference between good and bad cholesterol and types of physical activity that can prevent CVD. When considering diabetes, knowledge increased regarding the interaction between diabetes and cholesterol in the association with CVD. These results demonstrate that the "Amazing Race for Heart Health," a shortened CVD risk factor educational program based on the HGHH educational materials, was effective at increasing awareness regarding CVD risk factors.

HipHop2SToP a community-led health promotion initiative empowering Aboriginal youth in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: a process evaluation.

For millennia, Aboriginal people's ways of knowing, doing and being were shared through art, song, and dance. Colonisation silenced these ways, affecting loss of self-determination for Aboriginal people. Over the past decade in Australia, hip-hop projects have become culturally appropriate approaches for health promotion. When community led, and Aboriginal worldviews centralised, hip-hop workshops are more likely to be effective. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a community-led health promotion hip-hop music video, 'HipHop2SToP' was produced involving young people in Dampier Peninsula communities address healthy skin and healthy living practices. We report here a qualitative process evaluation of the HipHop2SToP project. Participants who had been involved in the planning and production of HipHop2SToP were selected using a purposive approach and invited either by email or face-to-face to participate in semi-structured interviews and share their experiences. Semi-structured interviews ranged from 30 to 60 min in duration and were conducted either face-to-face or virtually over MS Teams. Due to personal time constraints, two participants provided written responses to the semi-structured questions. All interviews were audio-recorded with consent and saved as a digital recording in a de-identified format. All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and uploaded into QSR NVivo v12 along with written responses. As a health promotion project, the critical success factors were community-ownership and discovering novel ways to collaborate virtually with remote communities using Microsoft (MS) software. Highlights included observing the young people actively engaged in the project and their catchy lyrics and key messaging for environmental health and skin infections. COVID-19 presented some challenges. Gaps in communication, clarification of stakeholder roles and expectations, and post-production outcomes were also identified as challenges. HipHop2SToP validates the need for Aboriginal community led health promotion programs. While creating some challenges COVID-19 also strengthened community ownership and created novel ways of maintaining relationships with remote Aboriginal communities. Future hip-hop projects would benefit from clarity of roles and responsibilities. Strengthening post-production outcomes by including a launch and well-planned, targeted communication and dissemination strategy will ensure the wider translation of important health messages and potential strengthen sustainability.

Family-focused intervention to promote adolescent mental health and well-being in Moldova and North Macedonia (FLOURISH): feasibility study protocol

IntroductionFamily-Focused Adolescent & Lifelong Health Promotion (FLOURISH) project will adapt, implement and evaluate a programme to support adolescent mental health and well-being through strategies, such as strengthening parenting practices, adolescent-caregiver...

Change in the motivation pattern of adolescents before and after participation in a multidisciplinary health promotion program

Introduction: there is evidence that multidisciplinary interventions are an efficient approach to achieving weight loss and other health-related goals. However, dropout rates of these programs are high among adolescents. The suggestion is that understanding the motivation of individuals to participate in these projects is fundamental to developing strategies for permanence and, consequently, promoting better results. Objective: the main aim of this study was to describe the motivations of overweight adolescents participating in a multidisciplinary health promotion project. Methods: this qualitative study was conducted from March to July 2021 using the Bardin content analysis technique. The tool used for data collection was the semi-structured interview, analyzed means by the software QSR NVivo 11 by grouping the speech into clusters. These, in turn, were evaluated in three categories: (1) motivation, (2) food, and (3) physical exercise. Results: the age of the participants was 13.8 ± 2.4 years old, with body mass index of 31.8 ± 8.5 kg/m². Regarding family income, 41.66% had a monthly payment of 3 to 6 minimum wages. Regarding parents’ educational level, 70.83% of mothers had completed higher education, while 29.16% had completed high school. According to the respondent’s answers, weight loss was the greatest motivation to participate in a multidisciplinary obesity treatment program. In category 2, it was observed that adolescents associated the act of eating with feelings such as anxiety and nervousness. In category 3, the impact of the pandemic was found under the modalities of physical exercise practiced. Conclusion: the results describe the motivation of overweight adolescents to participate in a multidisciplinary program, in addition to elucidating participants’ perception of their health and related habits, strategies for health promotion, and consequent improvement of the quality of life of these individuals.

Greater medial proximal tibial slope is associated with bone marrow lesions in middle-aged women with early knee osteoarthritis.

Bone marrow lesion (BML) is an important magnetic resonance finding (MRI) finding that predicts knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of proximal tibial morphology on BML, including the spreading root sign (SRS), in women without radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). It was hypothesized that varus alignment and a greater posterior tibial slopes (PTS) are associated with BML. A total of 359 female volunteers without knee OA who were participants in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in 2017 or 2019 were enrolled. Participants were divided into the non-OA and early knee OA (EKOA) groups based on the Luyten's classification criteria. The presence of pathological cartilage lesions, BMLs, attritions, meniscal lesions and effusions was scored on T2-weighted fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the Whole-Organ MRI Scoring system. The medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and medial and lateral PTS (MPTS and LPTS, respectively) were measured. Regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to reveal the relationship between BMLs and proximal tibial morphological parameters. Of the 359 participants, 54 (15%) were classified as having EKOA. The prevalence of cartilage lesions, BMLs, attritions, meniscal lesions and effusions was higher in the EKOA group than in the non-OA group. The two groups had no significant difference in the proximal tibial parameters. Regression analysis revealed that age and a smaller MPTA were associated with BML in both groups. Attrition (p = 0.029) and the MPTS (p = 0.025) were positively associated with BML in the EKOA group. The prevalence of BMLs was higher in women with EKOA and correlated with the varus and greater posterior slopes in those without radiographic knee OA. Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Tellegacy: An Intergenerational Wellness and Health Promotion Project to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Feasibility Study

Emerging research demonstrates that social isolation and loneliness are linked to significant physical and mental health conditions. To address these concerns, the Tellegacy program was developed as an intergenerational health-promoting intervention to ameliorate older adult social isolation and loneliness in an effort to increase wellness. The purpose of this study was to reflect on testing of the Tellegacy program as a behavioral intervention. University students trained in goal setting, mindfulness, and listening strategies were paired with 11 older adults in the northern Midwest area via weekly in-person and phone conversations. Oral reminiscence therapies were used and books containing their stories were given to the older adults after participation. Older adults were surveyed using the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Satisfaction of Life Scale, and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale to elucidate the effectiveness of the intervention. Improved scores in loneliness, satisfaction of life, and PHQ-9 demonstrated favorable improvements in older adults. Additional benefits for the student Legacy Builder were revealed from self-reported changes. This suggests the potential benefits of structured encounters between trained students and isolated or lonely older adults. The Tellegacy intergenerational feasibility program warrants further studies to fully demonstrate its impact on health outcomes.

Vascular Health Promotion Project and Vascular Medicine in China-CCVM2004-2023.

Cardiovascular disease(CVD) has become a major disease burden affecting people's health in China. Blood vessels are very important for human health and are the "sentinel" for the development of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The key to effectively preventing fatal, disabling heart, brain and peripheral vascular events lies in controlling traditional and non-traditional risk factors for vascular health from the source, and early assessment and intervention of early vascular lesions. Since 2004, China government promoted the early detection technology of vascular lesions and vascular medicine, and proposed the Beijing Vascular Health Stratification (BVHS) to provide suggestions for the examination, evaluation and management of risk factors, and to provide new ideas for lifelong maintenance of vascular health. This review mainly introduces the establishment and development of the clinical discipline of "vascular medicine" in the past 20 years in China, introduces the indicators for detecting vascular function and structure and the predictive value of vascular events, and carries out intelligent and digital management of vascular health throughout the life cycle of individualized prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for people with different parts or degrees of lesions, effectively reducing the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and the prospect of new technology in maintaining vascular health.

Using the QATCHEPP quality assessment tool to critically reflect on health promotion practice

Abstract Issue Critical health promotion is required to reduce health inequities and is distinguished from selective health promotion by its focus on the unequal distribution of structural and systemic privilege and power. This approach is central to progressing global priorities of health equity and sustainable development. However, much practice remains selectively oriented to a biomedical-behavioural approach. The Quality Assessment Tool for Critical Health Promotion Practice (QATCHEPP) was designed to support practitioners to engage in critical reflection on health promotion initiatives to assess the extent to which they align with a critical approach. Project description This project was a case study conducted in 2023. The objective was to use QATCHEPP to critically reflect on a place-based health promotion project. The case study question was to what extent does the health promotion project align with a critical approach? QATCHEPP includes three reflection questions for 10 critical health promotion values and principles, scored as strongly critical (2), somewhat critical (1), minimally or not at all critical (0), or insufficient evidence to be rated (0). Total scores for each value and principle and an overall summary score were calculated. Results The QATCHEPP summary score was 55% indicating that the project was somewhat aligned with a critical approach, with highest scores for assuming that people are doing their best for their wellbeing, and maximum beneficence, and lowest scores for consideration of non-maleficence and a salutogenic approach. Lessons QATCHEPP is an innovative and useful tool for critically reflecting on the extent to which health promotion initiatives align with a critical approach. We recommend that findings from such critical reflection be used by practitioners to identify where initiatives may benefit from re/orientation towards a more critical health promotion approach in any setting or country. Key messages • Practitioners should engage in critical reflection to determine the extent to which health promotion initiatives align with a critical health promotion approach. • QATCHEPP is an innovative and useful quality assessment tool to support critical reflection. Findings can be used to re/orient health promotion practice towards a more critical approach.

Promoting healthy learning: A participatory health promotion project with healthcare students

Abstract Background Health promotion is of great importance during education to prepare future health professionals for their work. Students need to cope with long periods of sitting, stress and high workload through practical training in the healthcare sector. Based on students’ experiences, we developed a project to promote healthy learning at a University of applied Sciences for Health in Germany. Objectives The project is part of an ongoing quality improvement in education initiative. Our aim was to inform students about health promotion in everyday study life. Based on a participatory approach, 3 employed occupational therapy students designed two videos with their peers. For evaluation, we sent three e-mails and conducted a survey among all 1730 students from 17 to 30 April 2023. Questions related to three aspects: how much students like the videos, whether they find them helpful, and whether they intend to use them in their everyday studies. Results Students identified two video topics: 1. Ergonomic adjustment of the desk with tips for improvement at no or low cost; 2. A short exercise programme to take part in, tailor-made for breaks between lectures or learning phases. 193 students opened the survey, 92 completed the questionnaire. The ergonomics video was rated good to very good by 83 (90%) of the participants; 83 (90%) found it helpful to optimize their workplace. 62 students (67%) wanted to adapt their workplace, 30 (33%) did not, already had an optimal workplace or abstained. The exercise video was rated good to very good by 76 (83%); 78 (85%) of the participants found it helpful. While 61 (66%) wanted to use it in their daily student life, 34% did not, used other exercises or abstained. Conclusions A consultation with the students in the project revealed that the survey's low response rate reflects the general burden of e-mail floods and study workload. Tailored videos were rated by most participants as helpful in promoting health in everyday study life. Key messages • Tailored health promotion is of great importance for healthcare students. Measures need to be affordable and easy to integrate in everyday student life. • Participatory approaches to health promotion for students are essential, because students’ expertise for student life leads to measures that best suit their needs.

Does the Protective Effect of Zinc on Telomere Length Depend on the Presence of Hypertension or Type 2 Diabetes? Results from the Iwaki Health Promotion Project, Japan.

Telomeres, repeated TTAGGG sequences at chromosomal ends, shorten with age and indicate cellular lifespan. Zinc can protect against telomere damage through its anti-oxidative effect. Meanwhile, telomere shortening was correlated with metabolic diseases of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the association between zinc and telomere length differs by the presence or absence of hypertension/type 2 diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study with 1064 participants of the Iwaki area, Japan. Multiple linear regression models were performed to test the hypothesis. A higher serum zinc concentration was significantly associated with a longer G-tail length (β = 48.11, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 25.69, 70.54, p < 0.001). By multivariate linear regression analysis, there was a significant positive association between zinc and G-tail length in both hypertensive (β = 46.84, 95%CI: 9.69, 84.0, p = 0.014) and non-hypertensive groups (β = 49.47, 95%CI: 20.75, 78.18, p = 0.001), while the association was significant only in the non-diabetes group (β = 50.82, 95%CI: 27.54, 74.11, p < 0.001). In conclusion, higher zinc concentration was significantly associated with longer G-tail length. The protective effect of zinc on G-tail did not differ by hypertension status; however, it disappeared in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Social implementation trial of the ALD/NAFLD predictive model to increase health literacy and promote behaviour change

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are serious health problems across the globe and research has shown that, within Japan, the situation in Okinawa Prefecture is particularly concerning. Researchers from Meio University, Hirosaki University, and Kyoto University in Japan are collaborating on ‘The Yambaru Health Promotion Project’ (YHPP). This epidemiological survey is designed to collect data on the people of Okinawa Prefecture with the goal of extending life expectancy and healthy life expectancy and improving quality of life. The big data collected by the YHPP will be analysed by the Prediction Application for Liver Disease (PALD) Plan and the PALD Plan will implement a trial of an ALD/NAFLD predictive model in the community to increase health literacy and promote behaviour change. Senior Associate Professor Jun Motomura is part of the team working on this research. He and his collaborators are working to develop a low-cost algorithm for predicting the future risk of developing ALD/NAFLD from health check-up results and a smartphone application that utilises the predictive model. The researchers are hopeful that the PALD Plan means that Okinawans could enter their annual health check-up results into their low-cost ‘ALD/NAFLD Prediction Model’ smartphone app that the team is developing and use the app to view lifestyle improvement advice specific to them.

O.2.2-5 Health promotion in rural areas. Findings from two German projects on physical activity promotion among disadvantaged populations

Abstract Purpose Communities play a crucial role for health promotion, especially for disadvantaged groups. At the same time, rural communities face specific challenges when planning and conducting health promotion projects. This presentation focuses on the challenges and opportunities rural communities experienced in two German projects for physical activity promotion. Methods Data were obtained from city administration staff participating in the GESTALT and the BIG projects (N = 13). Data were gathered via three storywall surveys. In addition, a real-world lab with city-administration staff, representatives of sickness funds and researchers was used to follow the communities over time and consult them on project implementation. Results The challenges and opportunities occurred can be categorized in five domains: Infrastructure/mobility: Rural areas are often not well connected to public transport. This can hinder people to attend exercise classes. Voluntarily organized transport services or neighborhood assistance might help overcoming this challenge. Networking Networking is a double-edged sword. Some staff reported to experience benefits of already existing contacts to relevant stakeholder due to closely-knit communities. Others reported that it is challenging to get in touch with the network partners in the rural areas. Durability In some cases, the project funding was seen as a window of opportunity and a starting point for developing new structures for health promotion. Range of offers A need of exercise classes in rural areas resulted in the success of the projects. However, the implementation of new programs and activities can be time-consuming. Especially in rural districts, solutions often are planned and implemented on a very small scale. Implementation Regarding implementation, there are several challenges to overcome. The communities lacked gyms and qualified instructors for the classes. Reaching the target population was another challenge. Conclusions Rural communities face unique as well as general challenges when implementing exercise programs, which can impact success of project implementation. However, rural structures can also result in opportunities for the participating communities. Support/Funding Source Funded by the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) on behalf of and with funds from the statutory health insurance companies according to § 20a SGB V.

Enhancing education through community engagement: Perspectives of student volunteers

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Background. Engagement between higher education institutions and underprivileged communities holds valuable potential for mutual benefit. In a country of vast inequalities such as South Africa (SA), community engagement also has the potential, via health promotion of local communities, to alleviate some of the burden placed on the public healthcare system, while simultaneously strengthening the personal and professional development of student participants.&#x0D; Objective. To explore the experiences, perceptions and insights of student volunteers (SVs) who assisted with a collaborative health-promotion project. Methods. This qualitative study used thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of six SVs in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, SA, who assisted in educating local vulnerable women on various aspects of female reproductive health at a wellness day for such women.&#x0D; Results. The SVs described the experience as positive and humbling, enhancing their professional and personal development. They reported that the community engagement helped them to define themselves and to grow skills they will need as future practitioners. The exposure to the challenges faced by vulnerable groups helped them to develop a sense of empathy and compassion, while igniting an eagerness to empower these groups through improved health literacy.&#x0D; Conclusion. The insights provided by this qualitative exploration strongly support the use of community engagement to develop culturally sensitive, empathetic healthcare practitioners.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Data-Linked Projects for Health Promotion in Public Health Centers of South Korea.

The purpose of this study lies in verifying the effectiveness of the health promotion project which the public health center at the local level conducted by systematically linking the health examination results from the Health Insurance Corporation. We intend to emphasize the importance of linking the health-related public data. A survey was conducted to measure the effect of improving health behavior using EQ-5D-5L and demographic variables. As a result of the analysis, the residents (3.13) who had experienced the use of public health centers recognized more necessity for the service linked systematically with health checkup data than those (2.93) who had not. In addition, the residents who had experienced the use of public health centers responded that their chronic diseases had improved compared to a year ago (2.78→2.93). Next, those (3.04) who had experienced the services linked with health checkup data recognized that their chronic diseases and health conditions had been improved compared to those (2.81) who had not. However, in EQ-5D-5L, after using the service, mobility showed no difference between those who had used the service and those who had not. Furthermore, even in terms of self-management, daily life, etc., the management ability was further improved compared to those who had not used it, before using the service. This study showed the improved health level when the health promotion service of the public health center was provided by systematically linking the health checkup data of the Health Insurance Corporation in Korea. In order to increase the effectiveness of health data-linked projects, it is necessary to prepare guidelines for linking the public health data and to expand the data-linked project. It will be needed to further subdivide the health checkup results to provide customized services, and to secure dedicated personnel to reinforce the system link.

Understanding community health workers’ activities in a community-based child health promotion project in Kyrgyzstan

BackgroundCommunity health workers (CHWs) have strong potential for conducting health initiatives in vulnerable countries. Their continuing activities are essential for positive outcomes. The purpose of this study is to understand CHW activities in Kyrgyzstan migrant villages and their impact on individuals and communities. MethodsThis study used a mixed-method design. All active CHWs were invited to participate in the survey and the first reflection note regarding their experience and satisfaction with CHW activities. Respondents who agreed to participate in the second reflection notes wrote additional reflection notes. Participatory observational CHW activity report meeting data was collected for additional qualitative analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. ResultsCHWs started their activities with altruistic and personal motives, such as social recognition and knowledge acquisition. Job-related satisfaction after the activity tended to be high. After performing home visits and resident participatory events, they experienced intrinsic motivation, resource mobilization efforts, increased autonomy, and social recognition. Although the material rewards were small as volunteers, they recognized their positive impact on individuals and communities and gained pride and happiness. ConclusionsCHWs participating in health promotion projects had training and CHW-nurse network activities and were gradually empowered in the process. When considering the sustainability of CHW activities, it is important to increase self-confidence and strengthen social recognition through empowerment.