A model for improving and sustaining professional communication and behavior of public health inspector at organizational level

Introduction: The activities of health inspectors are communication-oriented towards the prevention of public health and disease prophylaxis. When talking about professional communication and behaviour, the dominant influence of the professional environment in which a person operates, interacts, and influences the factors determining employee behavior must be considered. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for improving and sustaining the professional communication and behaviour of the public health inspector (PHI) at the organizational level. Materials and Methods: A qualitative method (in-depth interview) was used among 16 experts working in the system of Regional Health Inspectorate (RHI), Regional Directorate of Food Safety (RDFS), or another institution related to public health (PH). A quantitative method (survey) was also applied among 116 inspectors working in RHIs in seven regional cities using a self-developed questionnaire with 22 questions. Results: It was found that the activity of PHIs is associated with high workload and significant frequency of conflicts when carrying out official control. A theoretical model for assessing the behavioural characteristics of PHIs is proposed. Conclusion: The assessment of behavioural characteristics allows identifying key issues in the professional environment of the Inspector and taking actions to provide support at both individual and group levels

Trust of population in public control

Public health inspectors are civil servants, whose activity is related to the implementation of the established by a statutory instrument health requirements for control of sites of public importance. That is why the confidence of the population in the proper performance of their functions is essential.The aim of the study, on the one hand, is to examine the population's assessment of the activities of public health inspectors, and on the other hand, to establish the confidence of the public in the exercise of their control functions.There were 123 respondents, randomly selected individuals, divided by age and education. Over 2/3 of the respondents were inspected by inspectors from the Regional Health Inspection and Regional Directorate of Food Safety, and a significant proportion of them were present at such inspections (87.8% of respondents). In the majority of cases (83.3%), inspectors had an adequate attitude to the inspected and correctly explained the procedure. Nearly 2/3 of the respondents (65%) had confidence in the control exercised by health inspectors. However, respondents shared suggestions for improving the effectiveness of health control: increasing the remuneration of inspectors, optimizing the regulatory framework, strictly monitored health control, better qualification of the personnel. This will increase confidence and restore respect and deference to the institution that public health inspectors represent

Development of professional communication skills of the public health inspector in the training process In higher education institutions

Комуникативните умения и способността за правилното им използване са част от основните качества на бъдещите специалисти в областта на здравеопазването. Инспекторите по обществено здраве (ИОЗ) са членове на здравната система. Те са държавни служители и осъществяват контрол в обекти с обществено предназначение.Целта на разработката е да се направи анализ на възможностите за формиране на професионални комуникативни умения на ИОЗ в процеса на обучение във висшето училище.Основните комуникативни умения започват да се овладяват още в процеса на обучение и се доразвиват в трудовата дейност на работещите. Ефективното общуване изисква система от добре оформени информационни, възприемащи, интерактивни и специфични комуникативни способности. В дейността си здравните инспектори образоват и създават среди, които се поддържат от регулаторни стандарти и най-добри практики. Развиването на комуникативната компетентност на бъдещите инспектори се дължи на факта, че прилагането на държавен контрол, в основата на който е наблюдение, анализиране, организиране и провеждането на превантивни и противоепидемични мерки, включва интензивна комуникация с голям брой хора с етнически, полови, възрастови, социокултурни, професионални и индивидуални различия с различни нива на образование и информираност. Съгласно Наредбата за единните държавни изисквания за изучаваната специалност „Инспектор по обществено здраве” няма заложени задължителни учебни дисциплини, свързани с изграждане на комуникативни способности и умения на бъдещите специалисти. Комуникативните умения са ключов момент, на който понастоящем не се отделя достатъчно внимание. Необходимо е специализирано обучение, което да бъде заложено още в процеса на обучение във висшите училища.Communication skills and the ability to use them correctly are part of the core qualities of future healthcare professionals. Public health inspectors are members of the healthcare system. They are civil servants and exercise control in sites of public importance.The purpose of the article is to analyze the opportunities for the development of professional communication skills of the public health inspector in the training process in higher education institutions.The basic communication skills begin to be mastered during the education process and further developed in the practice of the professionals. Effective communication requires a system of well-formed information, perception, interactive and specific communication skills. In their activities, health inspectors educate and create environments that are supported by regulatory standards and best practices. The development of the communicative competence of future inspectors is due to the fact that the implementation of state control, the foundation of which is monitoring, analyzing, organizing and conducting preventive and anti-epidemic measures, involves intensive communication with a large number of people of ethnic, gender, age, socio-cultural, professional and individual differences with different levels of education and awareness. According to the Regulation on Uniform State Requirements for the major studied Public Health Inspector, there are no compulsory course units set up related to the development of communication skills and skills of the future specialists. Communication skills are a key point that is not given enough attention at the moment. There is a need for specialized training to be incorporated into the education process of higher education institution

Anthropometric measurements and food intake questionnairesas assessment tools for nutritional status in children with autism spectrum disorders

This review explores the utility of anthropometric measurements and food intake questionnaires as assessment tools for determin-ing the nutritional status of children with autism. Recognizing the unique challenges in evaluating dietary habits and nutritional adequacy in this population, the study investigates the reliability and validity of anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, and body mass index, alongside food intake questionnaires administered to children with autism. The findings hold promise for enhancing nutritional interventions and developing targeted strategies to address the distinctive dietary preferences and sensitivities often observed in children with autism, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their nutritional wellbeing

Specificity of communication skills Of the public health inspector in a professional environment

Introduction: Daily activities and roles require Public Health Inspector (PHI) to possess excellent communication skills and competencies. The requirement is also imperative because of the special status he or she receives as a civil servant, namely the sanctionability of his or her conduct. Acquisition of specific communication skills would contribute to the effective exercise of PHI profession.Purpose: To identify PHI specific communication skills in the course of the work processMaterials and Methods: A qualitative method (in-depth interview) was used among 16 experts working in the system of a Regional Health Inspectorate (RHI)/ District Food Safety Directorate (DFSD) or other institution relevant to public health (PH). A quantitative method (a survey) was applied among 116 inspectors working in RHI in seven district cities, using a self- administered questionnaire consisting of 22 questions.Results: Variety of activities and situations in the daily life of PHIs was confirmed. About one third (32.6%) of inspectors are involved in conflict resolution situations, which also determines the position of PHI experts to "act as mediators". Over half of the respondents (56.9%) noted that communication skills with different social groups are needed.Conclusion: The results confirm the need for specific communication skills in the work of PHIs. Training planning is important to help them acquire these skills

The Importance of Developing Communication Skills in Students from the Public Health Inspector Specialty

Introduction: The problem of developing the communication culture of future public health inspectors (PHIs) is considered to be of practical importance and requires special attention during their basic training.Aim: To identify the need for public health inspector communication skills development during the training process at the Medical College (MC).Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey of 116 inspectors working in the system of the Regional Health Inspection (RHI) in seven regional cities was conducted, as were interviews with 16 experts in the field of public health, 21 young inspectors (who finished their education over the last 5 years), and 30 students in the specialty of Public Health Inspector at the Medical College of Varna.Results: Over half of the surveyed inspectors (56.9%) consider that they need to have specific communication skills in their work. The majority of students and young professionals interviewed (80%) stated a need for additional training on topics related to professional communication. Conclusion: The fundamentals of all specialized knowledge and competences for the acquisition of communication skills should be laid during the PHIs’ training in the MC. This should be achieved through a specialized training course as part of the mandatory curriculum

The association between burnout and metabolic disorders

Introduction: Professional burnout is an emotional and physical exhaustion closely related to stress that is not well managed. Initially considered to be specific to medical professionals, today burnout is spoken about in all spheres of social life. The development of the syndrome involves the physical condition, but outgrows or runs parallel to a dysfunctional change in the behavior of those affected.Aim: The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between burnout and metabolic disorders.Materials and Methods: To achieve the goal, an analysis of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases by keywords has been conducted. Results: Burnout is a result of occupational stress that is not well managed. Subjects with occupational burnout experience emotional exhaustion, which often develops into physical symptoms. Changes in sleep and exhaustion are more often detected in these individuals, which often develop into metabolic disorders. Studies prove a relationship between a high level of occupational stress and a number of markers: increased blood pressure (p = 0.0), visceral obesity (p = 0.03), low HDL (p = 0.02), glycated hemoglobin, etc.High levels of occupational stress are associated with low motivation to build healthy habits. A link between diabetes and burnout has been observed in the literature, both in patients and in their relatives. In this case, occupational burnout is a product of the need to conduct activities to control the condition. The main guidelines related to the development of diabetes burnout are: feelings of mental exhaustion and physical fatigue from self-care related to the condition, neglecting the condition, withdrawal from care and support for the diabetic patient, feeling powerless to deal with diabetic burnout, individual characteristics of the life-like situation, as a result of which the control and aggravation of the condition is reached.Conclusion: Burnout can be a cause of metabolic disorders. On the other hand, diabetic patients and their relatives often suffer from burnout caused by the need to control the condition. It is necessary to carry out measures for the prevention of professional burnout to prevent the development of metabolic disorders, but also to help diabetic patients in the fight against the disease

Professional Communication of the Public Health Inspector: Opportunities for Optimization // Професионалното общуване на инспектора по обществено здраве – възможности за оптимизиране

Effective workplace communication involves the interaction with guidance workers, colleagues and consumers. The specificity of the Public Health Inspector's activity is expressed in his/her status as a civil servant and the right to power in the exercise of the profession. The thesis aims to determine the specifics of the communicative skills of the Public Health Inspector in the course of the work process. For this purpose, a quantitative method (questionnaire) is used among 116 Public Health Inspectors and a qualitative method (depth interviews) among 16 of them. The research results highlighted that the workload is a factor that is not only felt subjectively but is also confirmed by the lack of staff and growing commitments in the service. The expressed self-assessment for good communication skills does not correspond to the actual behaviour in the work environment. Improving and maintaining the professional communication and behaviour of health inspectors is possible by creating a system for monitoring, controlling, and analysing public health inspectors' behavioural characteristics. The results confirm the need for specific communication skills in the work of the Public Health Inspector. In order to master these skills, it is important to plan and conduct specific training. A model of Public Health Inspectors training has been proposed by introducing specialised programs to develop communicative skills and resolve conflicts on two levels - at the Higher Education and the level of work.Ефективната комуникация на работното място включва взаимодействие на работещите с ръководство, колеги и потребители. Спецификата в дейността на Инспектора по обществено здраве (ИОЗ) се изразява в статута му на държавен служител и правото на власт при упражняване на професията. Целта на дисертационният труд е да се определи спецификата на комуникативните умения на ИОЗ в хода на работния процес. За целта са използвани: количествен метод (анкетна карта) сред 116 ИОЗ и качествен метод (дълбочинни интервюта) сред 16 експерта по общественото здраве. В резултатите от проучванията се открои, че натовареността е фактор, който не само се усеща субективно, но се и потвърждава с липсата на кадри и растящи ангажименти в службата. Изразената самооценката за добри комуникативни умения не отговаря на реално проявеното поведение в трудовата среда. Подобряването и поддържането на професионалното общуване и поведение на здравните инспектори е възможно чрез създаване на система за наблюдение, контрол и анализ на поведенческите характеристики на ИОЗ. Резултатите потвърждават необходимостта от специфични комуникативни умения в работата на ИОЗ. За да се овладеят тези умения, е важно планирането и провеждането на специфични обучения. Предложен е Модел на обучението на ИОЗ чрез въвеждане на специализирани програми за развитие на комуникативни умения и решаване на конфликти на две нива – във висшето учебно заведение и на ниво месторабота