A European union and Canadian review of public health nursing preparation and practice.

This study explores the preparation and role of the public health nurse (PHN) across European Union (EU) countries (Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) and Canadian provinces (Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island)

Assessing the validity and reliability of the ‘Health Dialogue’ in 10-year-olds

Aim:The aim was to assess the concurrent, construct and convergent validity of the Health Dialogue questionnaire (HD) in 4th grade in compulsory school, through comparison of the HD questionnaire with Pediatric Quality Of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC).Methods:A sample was created from the HD n=1956, HBSC, n=1500 and PedsQL n=425. An exploratory factor analysis was performed in order to evaluate the construct validity of HD.Results:A majority of the questions show acceptable concurrent validity and the results support the HD as a valid 16-item three factorial model for school children aged 10 years old (grade 4). The HD's three factorial model's degree of explanation was 39% of the school children's health in school settings.Conclusion:The HD questionnaire is a valid instrument for measuring 10-year-old school children's self-reported-health and to identify positive health factors.</p

Promoting a relationship-based health practice: A challenge for school nurses

Background: School nurses have a unique opportunity to promote health when they meet school children during the Health Dialogue. The Health Dialogue concept is used by all the school nurses in a county in Mid Sweden.Aim: To describe school nurses' experiences of the Health Dialogue concept.Methods: A qualitative descriptive study with latent content analysis of interviews performed during February–April 2012, where 16 school nurses participated.Findings: The school nurses experienced the Health Dialogue concept as a useful tool to work with school children's health in a relationship-based, child focused, structured, and systematic way, which was reflected in one overarching theme: 'To be in a relationship-based, health-promoting practice.' However, school nurses also experienced loneliness and frustration from the many difficult situations with school children, and they indicated needs for further collaboration.Conclusions: The Health Dialogue concept is child-focused, systematic and structured, but it requires further development and continuing work on statistical feedback. School nurses indicated a need for collaboration with teachers, parents, and other health professionals, as well as professional-reflective supervision.</p