Role Of Public Health Nurses Research Articles

A mixed method study on global warming, climate change and the role of public health nurses from the perspective of nursing students

AimThis study aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of the nursing students taking the Public Health Nursing course about global warming, climate change, the impact on health and the role of the public health nurse. DesignThe study is a mixed method study that includes descriptive data and focus group discussions on global warming, the effects of climate change and the role of the public health nurse. MethodsThe data were collected from the nursing faculty of a university located in the Central Anatolia region, where agricultural lands are widespread and climate change effects are most commonly observed. The data were collected from 154 undergraduate senior nursing students between February 2020 and May 2020. Firstly, the students completed the Global Warming Questionnaire that includes 26 items about global warming, climate change, their effects and the role of the public health nurse. Secondly, some students (n = 19) selected through the purposive sampling method participated in online focus group meetings. ResultsOur study revealed that 87.7% of the students know the main cause of climate change. The mean scale scores of the students who watch documentaries on the environment, who participate in activities related to the environment, and who know that climate change, sustainable development and health services are closely related were found to be statistically significantly higher (p ≤ 0.005). The views of the students on global warming and the environment were analyzed in focus group interviews according to five themes (global warming perception; the impact of global warming on health; methods of protection; roles of nurses; nursing education). ConclusionGlobal warming and climate change are sensitive and important issues that cannot be evaluated considering only knowledge level. ImpactGlobal warming, climate change, their effects on health and the roles and responsibilities of nurses need to be included in the nursing curricula so that health professionals who can take measures against global warming, climate change and their health effects can be educated.

Disease Management of Cholera in Yemen Among People Displaced by Conflict

Yemen is experiencing the worst epidemic of cholera in modern history. This comes at a time of conflict in Yemen, when the country is facing civil war, famine, drought, and displacement of many people within the country. Yemen’s healthcare and sanitation facilities are in disrepair due to the fighting, and most of the aid provided is coming from international aid organizations. This article offers a brief history of cholera, including clinical manifestation, and discusses pertinent issues about the cholera epidemic in Yemen, such as current efforts to combat cholera, and recommendations to manage the cholera epidemic. Also discussed are recommendations for policy planning and management and the role of public health nurses working in the field with cholera patients.

Genetics education program to help public health nurses improve their knowledge and enhance communities\u2019 genetic literacy: a pilot study

BackgroundAs human genetics knowledge develops, public genetic literacy needs to be increased, though the educational capacity for this purpose has not yet been fully developed. Under this circumstance, the daily work of public health nurses can be viewed as an opportunity to enhance public genetic literacy. However, in Japan, there is not only a lack of public knowledge of human genomics but also a lack of public health nurses’ recognition about genomic literacy. A short-term education program was implemented as a pilot study. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the program to support public health nurses’ activity aimed at promoting health services-related genetic literacy.MethodsThe genetics education program was implemented in December 2019, in Kagoshima, Japan. Twenty-three public health nurses cooperated with the research. The program was composed of a case study on consultation, a lecture on hereditary diseases, and a discussion on the role of public health nurses. Familial hypercholesterolemia was used as the topic of the case study. We evaluated scores for cognition, affect, and psychomotor characteristics related to their learning goals before and after the program using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Answers in the consultation were qualitatively analyzed.ResultsThe mean cognitive score, capturing provision of explanations of hereditary disease, was 6.3 before the program but increased significantly to 9.3 after the program (p < 0.001). For the affective score, the goal of which was deepening interest in human genetics, the mean score increased significantly from 8.5 before to 11.0 after (p < 0.001). For the psychomotor score, addressing the need for genetic consultation, the mean score increased significantly from 4.4 before to 8.1 after (p < 0.001). Prominent themes extracted from descriptions on the worksheet post training included, “providing advice and accurate information on genetic disorders” and “referral to a specialized organization.”ConclusionsOur findings indicated that this education program helps public health nurses be positively involved in human genetic disorders. Thus, they may connect to their local community to provide accurate genetics knowledge and advice for health management and promoting genetic literacy.

Preparing for Complex Emergencies While Combating COVID-19: The Role of Public Health Nurses in Japan.

A combination of natural calamities and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would cause a complex emergency. Modifying a disaster prevention plan to combat COVID-19, by developing an evacuation and monitoring system for the COVID-19 cases and their contacts who stay at their homes, is urgently needed in the public sector. This short communication presents a preparation for the complex disaster by public health nurses who could contribute to preventing risks and death of community-dwelling people.

LGBT youth in foster care and the critical advocacy role of Public Health Nurses.

The purpose of this study was to describe the role of public health nurses working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children in foster care in the San Francisco Bay Area. LGBT youth are disproportionately represented in foster care and experience poor health and education outcomes. Foster care public health nurses (FCPHN) are in a unique position to address disparities with timely and appropriate referrals and advocate for policy changes. An online survey was developed to describe FCPHN responsibilities in case managing LGBT children. In all, 39 FCPHNs completed the survey. Most FCPHN did not know the number of LGBT youth in their caseload and reported that there was no systematic method of collecting this data. Few FCPHN had received training in LGBT health issues. This study confirms reports from other studies regarding lack of systematic data collection to deliver appropriate services to LGBT youth. It reports FCPHN lack of training as well as their assessment of the most important needs of this population. FCPHNs are in a unique position to advocate by promoting gender inclusive forms in child welfare agencies and addressing disparities in access to care.

Knowledge, attitudes, practice and related factors of oral cancer prevention among public health nurses in Taiwan.

Public health nurses (PHNs) in Taiwan act as individual/family-based primary care providers and as population-based community care providers. A little information is currently available on the ability of PHNs to prevent oral cancer. We surveyed knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of oral cancer prevention among PHNs. This study recruited 400 PHNs through the Taiwan Public Health Center. A structured electronic questionnaire was used to collect PHNs' demographics and scale scores for oral cancer knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviour. Providing PHNs with oral cancer prevention education, having the supervisor's support for preventive work and receiving in-service education would improve PHNs' knowledge, attitude and behaviour for oral cancer prevention. Attitude, oral cancer-related courses arranged by current employer (major factor), supervisor's support for work and having responsibility for oral cancer prevention were associated with the oral cancer preventive behaviour of PHNs, and explain 41.1% of total variance. We established a linear regression model for understanding the role of PHNs in the practice of preventing oral cancer. It may be useful for the government in improving school-based and in-service oral cancer prevention education programmes for PHNs as well as developing programmes for increasing public awareness and education of oral cancer prevention.

Scoping review of fire safety behaviors among high-rise occupants: Implications for public health nursing.

The purpose of this review was to identify gaps in the research literature regarding high-rise (HR) building occupant fire safety behaviors. Findings from this review will inform further development of the role of public health nurses (PHNs) in promoting population-based strategies to enhance HR occupant fire safety. The search included peer-reviewed English language articles published after 2001 describing fire safety behaviors among HR building occupants in the United States. Fourteen articles were included in the final review. Twelve articles reported exclusively on commercial HR building fire safety; two reported on both the residential and commercial HR building fire safety; 10 reported on events related to the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) towers. Various factors influenced HR occupants' fire safety behaviors, including knowledge about building fire safety features and emergency plans, participation in drills, and organizational emergency preparedness. People with mobility impairments required special considerations. Two theoretical models explaining HR occupants' fire safety behaviors were identified. Gaps in the research literature exist regarding residential HR occupant fire safety behaviors. Further research regarding ways that PHNs are currently engaged in this important public health issue should be further explored.

Identifying community priorities for neighborhood livability: Engaging neighborhood residents to facilitate community assessment.

Identifying community-driven priorities to improve health outcomes is crucial toward achieving health equity. Seldom are communities experiencing health disparities included in community health assessment (CHA) and health improvement planning efforts (Pennel, McLeroy, Burdine, Matarrita-Cascante, & Wang, 2017). The purpose of this project was to conduct a CHA using a socio-ecological framework and community engagement (CE) process. In this paper we describe an exemplar engaging local residents as community facilitators to assess indicators of neighborhood livability, challenges and lessons learned, and implications for public health and community/public health nursing. Community residents were trained to facilitate focus groups and participated in analyzing these data. Data analysis yielded five neighborhood livability indicators and priorities reflecting the social determinants of health. Engaging community residents as stakeholders in CHA and health improvement planning is critical for identifying structural factors affecting neighborhood livability and priorities to improve health and well-being. Public health and health care system partnerships employing inclusive CE practices are necessary to improve overall population health outcomes. Public health nursing's role as strategy and system leaders can contribute toward the success of these cross-sector partnerships with diverse communities and populations.

PART I: The role of public health nursing in addressing health care needs of children in foster care.

The purpose of this study was to describe the role of Public Health Nurses (PHN) addressing the needs of children and adolescents in foster care. Children in foster care have more physical, mental, dental, developmental health problems than the general pediatric population. National data indicate that between 30%-80% of children come into foster care with at least one physical health problem. An online survey was developed to describe PHN day-to day activities, PHN funding, case load and case management responsibilities. Thirty-nine PHNs completed the survey (72% response rate). Nurses described the most important needs as being mental and emotional health services, self-esteem/self-worth and dental care. Care coordination, case management and monitoring/oversight of psychotropic medications were the top responsibilities. The study demonstrated that public health nursing expertise is an essential part of the child welfare team in addressing medical, dental, mental and developmental needs of children in foster care. There is an expanding role of Public Health Nurses in non-health care settings to intervene at the system level of the Intervention Wheel that includes policy development and enforcement, community organizing, and coalition building.

The role of public health nurses in risk factor modification within a high-risk cardiovascular disease population in Ireland - a qualitative analysis.

Health promotion for cardiovascular disease risk factors management is essential to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease events. In Ireland, post-cardiac rehabilitation patients are discharged into the care of community public health nurses, who have a health promotion role. Little is known of the public health nurses' perceptions or knowledge surrounding their role in cardiovascular disease risk factor management. Underpinned by a constructivist viewpoint, this study aims to generate empirical evidence on the phenomenon directly from public health nurses' encounters within the context of the current health service. This qualitative cross-sectional analysis involved face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 17 public health nurses. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, subjected to thematic content analysis and subsequently reported incorporating verbatim quotes. A significant gap exists between evidence-based guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention and current practices. Variations in public health nurses' training, experience and knowledge result in inconsistent practices, and public health nurses feel this is specialised area for which they are not equipped. The changing public health nurse role and increasing workloads result in prioritisation of other nursing duties over health promotion. Ineffective systems for care delivery and a lack of community-based rehabilitation programmes also negatively impact on secondary prevention practices. Findings support the need to develop a community cardiovascular disease specialist role to effectively support ongoing cardiovascular disease risk factor management. Evaluation of the mechanisms of current service delivery is required to ensure a quality-assured equitable service, in line with community needs and current evidence-based guidelines for practice. A quantitative triangulation study is recommended.

Opening the doors for school health-An exploration of public health nurses' capacities to engage in comprehensive school health programs.

Public health nurses (PHNs) have a significant role in engaging the voice and actions of school communities in promoting the health of children and youth. School nursing was one of the early 20th century public health nursing foci and specialties in Canada, however over several decades, there has been a gap in actualizing PHNs' full potential in schools. At the same time, intersectoral and interdisciplinary comprehensive school health (CSH) models have emerged as exemplars of partnerships between schools and communities to advance health promotion and ultimately chronic disease prevention with school populations (Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health, ; World Health Organization, ). Using a participatory action research methodology we explored the role of PHNs in CSH, drawing on the concept of engagement in intersectoral healthy school teams. The three themes that emerged from the data analysis were: facilitators of public health nursing engagement, barriers to public health nursing engagement, and the influences of community context on engagement. Overall, findings indicate that the PHN role in CSH must be developed and supported so that PHNs remain a vital link between school health communities, programs, and policies in the promotion of health.

The Intermediary Roles of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) in Utilizing Communication Robots (CRs) in Community Health Care Practice

Robot technology is expected to reduce the burden of medical professionals, a concern in the super-aged society. The aim of this article is to determine the intermediary roles of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) in using Communication Robots (CRs) in Community Health care. It is necessary to consider who will manage, and how to draw lines of responsibility when a problem occurs when using robots in the future. Regarding the mediator or intermediary role of PHNs in the use of CRs, PHNs are expected to be cognizant of varieties of robots for use with persons of diverse ages and health levels, as well as of robot performances. As one of the community healthcare workers who service the elderly living in the community, the role of PHNs as mediators or intermediaries is to pay attention to ethical and moral issues while working with CRs to manage the health of the community. Lack of understanding of the intermediary role might create possible ethico-moral issues in the future. Therefore, it is critical for PHNs to understand their role as intermediaries. In doing so, it is expected that older people at home will be able to live peaceful lives, as well as be physically and mentally healthy.

分野横断的・包括的ケアシステムにおける保健師の役割:―公共政策研究の視点から―

分野横断的・包括的ケアシステムにおける保健師の役割:―公共政策研究の視点から―

Challenges and demands in the population-based work of public health nurses.

Government programs and the Norwegian Directorate of Health give public health nurses in Norway an explicit role in population-based health promotion and disease-prevention work. The aim of this paper is to explore Norwegian public health nurses' experiences with population-based work. A phenomenological hermeneutic approach was adopted, involving face-to-face interviews with a purposeful sample of 23 public health nurses from urban and rural districts in two counties in Norway. Three themes were identified: the predominance of work at the individual level, a lack of resources, and adherence to administrative directives. The interviews revealed that the public health nurses were mostly occupied with individual problem-solving activities. Population-based work was hardly prioritized, mostly because of a lack of resources and a lack of recognition of the population-based role of public health nurses. The study indicates contradictions between the public health nursing practice related to population-based work and the direction outlined by the government and the public health nursing curriculum, which may mean that the public health nursing role is not sufficiently clarified. The implementation of practice models and administrative directives and resources, as well as an explicit emphasis on population health in public health nursing education, can contribute to increased population-based interventions. Greater knowledge of and emphasis on population-based work in public health nursing are needed.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Bioterrorism Preparedness - 13 Years Later

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Bioterrorism Preparedness - 13 Years Later

The Types of Roles of Public Health Nurses in Their Successful Activities

The Types of Roles of Public Health Nurses in Their Successful Activities

Starting at the Beginning: The Role of Public Health Nursing in Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

The promotion, protection and restoration of mental health are foundational to healthy communities. However, most mental health services in Canada, already underfunded in comparison to hospital-based medical-surgical programs, continue to be focused on providing reactive acute care. Mental health problems in later life often have their roots in the prenatal, infancy and early childhood life periods, and considerable evidence has accumulated about the effectiveness of interventions during this period of time. Although public health nurses (PHNs) play a leadership role in Canada in developing and providing programs that promote mental health in the early years, much of this work is largely invisible. This paper describes the concept of infant and early childhood mental health, identifies key national policies, and explores the role of PHNs in supporting mental wellness for infants and families, in keeping with health equity and Indigenous perspectives. Canadian practice exemplars are provided to highlight the value of investing in the promotion of infant and early childhood mental health.

新たな時代に必要とされる行政保健師の役割 : ヘルスプロモーションの理念に基づく保健師活動の実践(地域看護活動報告)

新たな時代に必要とされる行政保健師の役割 : ヘルスプロモーションの理念に基づく保健師活動の実践(地域看護活動報告)

A qualitative meta-synthesis: public health nurses role in the identification and management of perinatal mental health problems.

To report findings of a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies exploring public health nurses' perceptions and experiences of identifying and managing women with perinatal mental health (PMH) problems. Public health nurses play a key role in supporting women who experience PMH problems and several qualitative studies have explored their role. Systematic review and meta-synthesis DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search was developed and multiple databases were searched from 2000-2015. Studies that employed qualitative methods to explore experiences of public health nurses in identifying and managing women with PMH problems were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of studies. Themes, concepts and interpretations were extracted and synthesized using the process of thematic analysis. Fifteen papers including 14 unique qualitative studies were included. Two overarching themes were identified: 'conceptualization and detection of PMH problems' and 'barriers and facilitators to management'. The former of these comprised several subthemes including the use of formal screening tools vs. clinical intuition and challenges encountered in detection. The latter theme, barriers to management included availability of referral pathways and time. In terms of facilitators, training, public health nursing interventions, support groups and referral pathways were identified as factors that optimize management. Public health nurses use a variety of methods to identify women with PMH problems. However, several support structures are needed to optimize management including access to appropriate referral pathways, support groups and relationship continuity.

Nursing interventions to help prevent children from working on the streets.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a programme developed by the researchers entitled, 'The Streets are Not the Solution' for preventing children from working on the streets. To date, public health nursing interventions preventing child labour have been limited. Public health nursing interventions occupy an important place in preventing children from working on the street. This was an semi-experimental study conducted over the period April 2011-July 2012. Thirty-six children working on the streets and their mothers were recruited in Izmit, Turkey. As part of the programme, the subjects took part in nine educational sessions, received individual consulting services, and the mothers attended a jewellery-making course. The impact of the programme was evaluated three times, once before the activity, then at the end of the activity, and later, three months after the programme was over. The Family Evaluation Form, The Child/Parental Acceptance-Rejection-Control Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Problem Solving Inventory were used as data collection tools. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. This programme was effective in helping mothers to develop their parental roles, increasing the mothers' network of social support, developing their problem-solving skills and preventing their children from working on the streets. To prevent children from working on the streets includes family based applications such as public health nursing interventions. The roles of public health nurses about preventing children from working on the streets must be adopted in the healthcare system.