How to become a health promotion practitioner? : a longitudinal study on professional identity formation and study success

Developing a professional identity (PI) is associated with various positive outcomes such as strengthened social support, mental health, life satisfaction, and wellbeing. Moreover, the development of a PI leads to the successful adoption of a professional role, which – according to the FAME consortium – represents a prerequisite for quality awareness, professional commitment, ethical behavior, and a sense of professional commitment. Given this importance of a PI, the present research aims to explore the PI development for a health profession that has not received much attention yet, namely health promotion practitioners. This PI development is particularly interesting as the education and the professional practice of health promotion and prevention practitioners is characterized by extensive inter- and trans-professional collaboration and by the large number of very different career paths; both factors that can be assumed to challenge the development of a strong professional PI. Building on the conceptual background of the identity-status model (Mancini et al., 2015), students of a newly established health promotion and prevention undergraduate program in Switzerland filled in questionnaires regarding their PI development at the beginning of their studies as well as after the 3rd semester. As a control group, first year students of the physiotherapy undergraduate program were recruited; a profession that has a long-standing history and relatively well-defined career paths. The status of the PIs and its development during this first year are analyzed and compared between professions. Implications for the design of programs will be discussed

Professional Identity Formation in Health Promotion Practitioners: Students’ Perspectives during an Undergraduate Program in Switzerland

The health promotion (HP) community advocates for capacity building, quality assurance and political awareness of HP. Professional identity (PI) is of great relevance to these goals as persons who strongly identify with their profession better adopt their professional role, raising the quality, competence and common values within a professional group. However, investigations on the HP workforce are missing. In order to investigate PI formation in HP professionals, a longitudinal study was conducted with two student cohorts of a Swiss HP and prevention undergraduate program. Using a qualitative approach, focus groups were conducted at the beginning and end of the undergraduate program. Data were transcribed verbatim and condensed using thematic analysis. The results highlight the complexity of the HP’s professional profile. While students experienced difficulties to capture the profile at the beginning of the program, at the end they developed an understanding of it. The practical experience within work placements helped students to grasp the profile and specify their future professional role. Several behavioral, cognitive and motivational aspects were identified that influence HP students’ PI formation and can be fostered. For instance, universities can commit to public relations for HP practitioners and support the PI formation throughout the study program

The first undergraduate program in health promotion and prevention in Switzerland : context, concept, and challenges

In 2016, the only undergraduate program in health promotion and prevention (HP) in Switzerland to date was launched at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. HP in Switzerland is well institutionalized and anchored in health politics, but the profession of HP practitioners is not well established yet. The conceptualization of HP as outlined in the Ottawa Charta makes it quite complex to teach and learn HP within an undergraduate program. The program (180 ECTS) is offered as a full-time (3 years) and part-time (5 years) program to a maximum of 66 students. The outlined learning outcomes are based on the CompHP to ensure international transferability of HP competencies. The focus is on a threefold methodological approach, consisting of (1) practical training, (2) skills training (research, project management, and communication), and (3) interprofessional training. Experiences with 5 years of program implementation have revealed challenges, e.g., adapting the form of study to the current trend of flexible education to enable more self-directed learning opportunities and promoting better employability of the graduates. By providing a supportive learning environment for HP, the program contributes to publicity and quality assurance in practice and policy of HP in Switzerland and internationally

Gesundheit trifft Technik : forschendes Lernen hands on in den wissenschaftlichen Methoden im Setting Gesunde Hochschule : «cross over» Erfahrungen von Studierenden

Zielsetzung: Wissenschaftliche Kompetenzen, wie der Einstieg in qualitative Methoden sind geprägt von abstrakten-theoretischen Inhalten und erschliessen sich Studierenden meist erst im konkreten Anwendungsbezug. Deshalb wurde im BA-Studiengang Gesundheitsförderung & Prävention (GP) der Feldzugang mittels forschenden Lernens gewählt. GP-Studierende nehmen Einblick in ihr künftiges Handlungsfeld. Anhand qualitativer Interviews sammeln sie erste Lern-Erfahrungen im gesundheitsfördernden Setting Hochschule (WHO, 2019). Ziel des projektgestützten Vorgehens ist es: GP-Studierende sammeln Erfahrungen beim Führen qualitativer Interviews im berufsbezogenen Setting gesunde Hochschule und nehmen eine Multiperspektive zu folgenden Teilzielen ein: - Anwenden wissenschaftlicher, qualitativer Methoden zum Thema: Subjektive Gesundheit von Studierenden in drei Rollen als a) ModeratorIn, b) ProtokollführerIn, c) BeobachterIn, und deren anschliessende Reflexion - Umsetzen projektbezogenen Vorgehens im künftigen Setting der Gesundheitsförderung - Erwerb professioneller Handlungs- Methoden-, Selbst-, und Kommunikationskompetenz Methoden: Die Hinführung zum Forschenden Lernen erfolgt stufenweise in verschiedenen Lernformaten (frontal, Kleingruppen Diskussionen, Übungen, Selbststudium und Vorbereitungsaufgaben, u.a.): a) Theoretisch-praktisches Heranführen an wissenschaftliche Grundbegriffe der qualitativen Methoden. b) Ausführlicher Leitfaden zur Interviewführung in Kleingruppen in drei Rollen (s. o.) mit schriftlicher Reflexion der Selbsterfahrung im Forschungsfeld, Auswertung wissenschaftlicher Literatur zur gelebten Gesundheit von Studierenden, der Umgang mit der künftigen Rolle als GP. c) Lehrenden-Begleitung im Setting Hochschule. Ergebnisse: GP-Studierende führten 52 Interviews mit Studierenden der Technik (T) zum Thema: «subjektive Gesundheit im Setting Hochschule». Die Ergebnisse der Selbstreflexion umfassen verschiedene Perspektiven: a) Methodische Aspekte wie z.B.: die Anwendung von Interviewfähigkeiten und der Umgang in den drei Rollen, b) inhaltliche Aspekte zu subjektiven Theorien für das Verstehen von Gesundheit wie z.B.: unerwartete Aussagen zur bisher ungewohnten Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema Gesundheit, oder zu psychischen Belastungen der T-Studierenden, c) personale und kommunikative Aspekte zum eigenen professionellen Handeln in der Gesundheitsförderung, wie z.B.: Umgang mit unerwarteter Nervosität im Interview, oder Unterschätzen der Protokollführung, u.a. Diskussion: GP-Studierende sehen sich in einer anspruchsvollen Lernsituation, die eine Hinführung und ein hohes Mass an Selbstkontrolle erfordert. T-Studierende nehmen einen anderen Blick auf subjektive Gesundheit ein als GP-Studierende. Der Genderbias ist hierzu näher zu untersuchen. Take home messages: GP-Studierende schätzen den Gewinn aus der Übungserfahrung als hoch ein. Sich frühzeitig in ein berufsnahes Setting zu begeben stärkt die eigene Erwartung und Vorstellung an künftige Aufgaben

User-centered development of a web platform supporting community-based health care organizations for older persons in need of support : qualitative focus group study

Background: The ongoing changes in population demographics increase the relevance of dignified aging across Europe. Community-based health care (CBHC) organizations are necessary to provide sustainable strategies for organizing care for older persons in need of support. To support the digitalization of these organizations, new business models and suitable web platforms are necessary. Objective: This study, which is part of the European Active and Assisted Living (AAL) project called “ICareCoops”, aimed to explore concepts, approaches, and workflows of CBHC organizations to achieve a comprehensive understanding of extant services offered and relevant requirements to support these services with information and computer technology (ICT) solutions. Methods: A qualitative study with six focus groups (FGs) with 40 participants was conducted in Switzerland and Slovenia to identify potential stakeholders’ needs and requirements for the user-centered development of a web platform. Data were collected from three different stakeholder groups: (1) older persons in need of support as care receivers, (2) significant others of older persons in need of support, and (3) managers or care providers of CBHC organizations. A semistructured interview guide with open questions was used for data collection. FG sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the content of the FG sessions. To assist with further web platform development, the responses of the FG participants were translated into user stories to describe technical requirements. Results: By analyzing the transcripts, five main categories were identified: (1) ICT usage behavior of users, (2) challenges of web platform usage, (3) content and technical requirements for the web platform, (4) form and services of CBHC organizations, and (5) rationales of CBHC organizations. The main issues identified were the need for seniors to have individual contact with the CBHC organization and the possibility to coordinate routine services via the web platform, such as ordering meals-on-wheels or booking a caregiver to accompany an older person to the doctor. Conclusions: The majority of participants showed a lack of familiarity with the usage of ICT. Nevertheless, they were open-minded regarding web platform usage to facilitate workflows and to benefit CBHC organizations. Cooperatives as an organizational model demonstrate a high potential to address users’ needs. Therefore, the web platform offers an essential tool for innovative health care models in the future. Searching for care services, contacting care providers, and communicating with care providers was preferred via personal contact and seemed to be the key element for user acceptance and for the successful implementation of a web platform like “ICareCoops” to support CBHC organizations

Adopting Quality Criteria for Websites Providing Medical Information About Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: The European Union considers diseases to be rare when they affect less than 5 in 10,000 people. It is estimated that there are between 5000 and 8000 different rare diseases. Consistent with this diversity, the quality of information available on the Web varies considerably. Thus, quality criteria for websites about rare diseases are needed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to generate a catalog of quality criteria suitable for rare diseases. METHODS: First, relevant certificates and quality recommendations for health information websites were identified through a comprehensive Web search. Second, all considered quality criteria of each certification program and catalog were examined, extracted into an overview table, and analyzed by thematic content. Finally, an interdisciplinary expert group verified the relevant quality criteria. RESULTS: We identified 9 quality certificates and criteria catalogs for health information websites with 304 single criteria items. Through this, we aggregated 163 various quality criteria, each assigned to one of the following categories: thematic, technical, service, content, and legal. Finally, a consensus about 13 quality criteria for websites offering medical information on rare diseases was determined. Of these categories, 4 (data protection concept, imprint, creation and updating date, and possibility to contact the website provider) were identified as being the most important for publishing medical information about rare diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The large number of different quality criteria appearing within a relatively small number of criteria catalogs shows that the opinion of what is important in the quality of health information differs. In addition, to define useful quality criteria for websites about rare diseases, which are an essential source of information for many patients, a trade-off is necessary between the high standard of quality criteria for health information websites in general and the limited provision of information about some rare diseases. Finally, transparently presented quality assessments can help people to find reliable information and to assess its quality

Adopting Quality Criteria for Websites Providing Medical Information About Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: The European Union considers diseases to be rare when they affect less than 5 in 10,000 people. It is estimated that there are between 5000 and 8000 different rare diseases. Consistent with this diversity, the quality of information available on the Web varies considerably. Thus, quality criteria for websites about rare diseases are needed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to generate a catalog of quality criteria suitable for rare diseases. METHODS: First, relevant certificates and quality recommendations for health information websites were identified through a comprehensive Web search. Second, all considered quality criteria of each certification program and catalog were examined, extracted into an overview table, and analyzed by thematic content. Finally, an interdisciplinary expert group verified the relevant quality criteria. RESULTS: We identified 9 quality certificates and criteria catalogs for health information websites with 304 single criteria items. Through this, we aggregated 163 various quality criteria, each assigned to one of the following categories: thematic, technical, service, content, and legal. Finally, a consensus about 13 quality criteria for websites offering medical information on rare diseases was determined. Of these categories, 4 (data protection concept, imprint, creation and updating date, and possibility to contact the website provider) were identified as being the most important for publishing medical information about rare diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The large number of different quality criteria appearing within a relatively small number of criteria catalogs shows that the opinion of what is important in the quality of health information differs. In addition, to define useful quality criteria for websites about rare diseases, which are an essential source of information for many patients, a trade-off is necessary between the high standard of quality criteria for health information websites in general and the limited provision of information about some rare diseases. Finally, transparently presented quality assessments can help people to find reliable information and to assess its quality