Social Marketing in Marketing Health

Health communication is one of key approaches in health promotion. In last decade more and more techniques used by commercial marketers are used, termed in this context »social marketing«. It became integrative and inclusive discipline that uses a wide range of social sciences and social policy approaches as well as marketing. Like commercial marketing, social marketing is also focused on the consumer, and similarly, it is the knowledge on what people want and need and how to persuade them to buy what we are producing. On the other hand, there is a great difference between commercial and social marketing in the product. The paper presents the rough overview of the concept of social marketing and its basic characteristics

Disease Prevention in Pre-School Children

One of the most important tasks of health care systems all over the world is to keep watch over health of the youngest population groups. Preventing various diseases by taking preventive measures in this population group saved millions of lives in the past. The paper presents the rough overview of the concept of disease prevention in preschool- and school-age children. The organisational scheme in Slovenia is used as an example. The consultation rooms in Slovenia are intended for healthy babies and children. They are not intended only for child’s care, but also for giving practical advice to children’s parents. Consultations are not limited only on child’s care. Parents are also advised about various determinants of children’s health e.g. appropriate diet as well. All the childrens frequent diseases are fought against according to the common doctrine as well. Several preventive systematic health examination and preventive measures are performed

Healthy Kindergartens

Pre-school period is extremely important in adopting individual health behaviour. Consecutively it is very important how to present health and healthy behaviour to the child. The project is directed to create conditions for children’s well-being and health, education for a healthy behaviour, and support of social and professional partners. At the beginning of the nineties, a project entitled »Healthy Schools« was launched by the World Health Organization to stimulate schools for incorporation of health promotion in their curricula and everyday life. Since this project was relating to primary schools only, similar project entitled »Healthy Kindergarten« was developed in some European countries. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the development, aim, and goals of healthy kindergartens, and as an example how the project concepts could be implemented as a routine. The first case study is presenting the development of the »Healthy Kindergarten« project in Slovenia, and the »Health in the Kindergartens« programme, the successor of the project, implemented as a routine. The second case is presenting an intervention tool in Hong Kong where children’s health status was found to be poor

Healthy Cities Project: Phase IV

Healthy Cities is a dynamic concept/approach, which seeks to put health high on the political and social agenda of cities and to build a strong movement for public health at the local level. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network consists of a network of cities from around Europe that are committed to a comprehensive implementation of the Healthy Cities concept. Based on the criteria that are renewed every five years, the cities are designated to the WHO Network. Each five-year phase focuses on a number of core priority themes, which are launched with a political declaration and a set of strategic aims. Phase IV (2003–2008) has three core themes being, healthy urban planning, health impact assessment, and healthy ageing, with additional core theme and encourages action to tackle obesity and promote physical activity and active living. In Slovenia, Celje with its around 50.000 inhabitants become one of the 50 cities, included in basic WHO Healthy Cities Network in the Phase IV of the project. It is presented as an example to illustrate this phase of the project

Complementary and Alternative Medicine - some Public Health Views

CAM is, from the point of view of public health, a phenomenon that should be followed, analysed and controlled. Noxious as well as protective factors which accompany the implementation of CAM methods should be recognised so as to be able to inform the public of the results in a timely and accurate manner. The case study analyses the viewpoints of medical doctors, patients and the state of the phenomenon of CAM in Slovenia. A declinatory attitude of conventional medicine to CAM is present. In contrast, population express a favourable opinion on alternative methods of treatment, and more than a third of them actually make use of them

Mental Health Care

Mental health conceptualize a state of well-being, perceived self efficacy, competence, autonomy, intergenerational dependence and recognition of the ability to realize one's intellectual and emotional potential. Mental health care are services provided to individuals or communities by agents of the health services or professions to promote, maintain, monitor, or restore mental health. Students will become familiar with extensiveness of the problem, and levels of preventing it. It is illustrated by the case of Slovenia

Twelve-year Blood Pressure Dynamics in Adults in Ljubljana Area, Slovenia: Contribution of WHO Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention Program

Aim: To determine 12-year dynamics of the average value of arterial blood pressure and arterial hypertension prevalence among adult residents of Ljubljana area in Slovenia, and to assess the probable contribution of World Health Organization’s Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention Program (CINDI) to observed dynamics. Methods: A total of 4409 adults aged 25-64 participated in three successive cross-sectional surveys performed in Ljubljana area from late autumn to early spring 1990/1991, 1996/1997, and 2002/2003 (n1990/91=1692, n1996/97=1342, n1990/91=1375). Standardized measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were performed. The subjects were considered to have hypertension if systolic/diastolic blood pressure was ≥140/90 mm Hg. The dynamics of average values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures and arterial hypertension was statistically assessed with multiple linear or logistic regression. Results: After the adjustment for the effects of sex, age, and education, the average value of systolic blood pressure remained almost the same between 1990/1991 and 1996/1997 (130.6±20.3 and 130.6±19.6 mm Hg, respectively; P=0.728), whereas it significantly decreased to 127.6±17.8 mm Hg in 2002/2003 (P<0.001). The average value of diastolic blood pressure was not significantly different in 1990/1991, 1996/1997, and 2002/2003 (83.4±11.6 mm Hg, 84.1±11.4 mm Hg, and 83.5±11.2 mm Hg, respectively; P=0.059). The odds ratio for arterial hypertension increased significantly between 1990/1991 and 1996/1997 (P=0.001), but decreased between 1996/1997 and 2002/2003 (P=0.135). Conclusions: The values of blood pressure remained unchanged or increased during the first half of 12-year period, but decreased during the second half. The favorable decrease in average blood pressure could be attributed to systematic intervention promoted by CINDI program activities in Slovenia, which started in the late 1990s

Learning needs assessment among professional workers in community mental health centres in Slovenia: Study protocol

Aim:&nbsp;This article aims to present a study protocol that represents a tool developed for a learning needs assessment. With a pilot study, based on the presented concept of a model study, we will be able to assess what mental health learning content is not yet part of formal higher education for professionals working in community mental health centres, but has been identified as necessary for inclusion. The presented tool is transferable with appropriate modifications. The goal is to conduct multiple research with the same basic tool at all levels of the educational system and in continuing professional education for all professionals who work with people. Methods:&nbsp;The learning needs assessment study protocol presented uses both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. It is expected that the research will be conducted in several interrelated phases that holistically cover the needs assessment process. Results:&nbsp;The pilot study will provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of the prepared learning needs assessment tool. Through the research study, the learning needs of professionals working in community mental health centres, will be identified. Conclusion:&nbsp;Professional mental health care workers must be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to perform their work with quality. By implementing appropriate mental health learning content in educational processes from pre-school education to higher education and further to continuing professional education, we can impact the mental health of the entire population. Since this can lead to acquiring the competencies necessary to care of one’s own mental health and that of others, it can be considered an important public health intervention

Concepts and Principles in Health Promotion

This module provides a theoretical background to the concepts and principles of health promotion as a foundation for good practice. Current concepts of health promotion, approaches and international targets are addressed together with discussion of debates and dilemmas facing health promotion practitioners. This module is the introduction to the Chapter Health Promotion and covers the topics such us: From Public Health to New Public Health and Health Promotion. The Evolution of Health Promotion. The Ottawa Charter, Bangkok Charter and Beyond. Health Promotion in Europe. Main principles and concepts in health promotion, strategies and areas. The scope of Health promotion in the future

Healthy Kindergartens

Pre-school period is extremely important in adopting individual health behaviour. Consecutively it is very important how to present health and healthy behaviour to the child. The project is directed to create conditions for children’s well-being and health, education for a healthy behaviour, and support of social and professional partners. At the beginning of the nineties, a project entitled »Healthy Schools« was launched by the World Health Organization to stimulate schools for incorporation of health promotion in their curricula and everyday life. Since this project was relating to primary schools only, similar project entitled »Healthy Kindergarten« was developed in some European countries. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the development, aim, and goals of healthy kindergartens, and as an example how the project concepts could be implemented as a routine. The first case study is presenting the development of the »Healthy Kindergarten« project in Slovenia, and the »Health in the Kindergartens« programme, the successor of the project, implemented as a routine. The second case is presenting an intervention tool in Hong Kong where children’s health status was found to be poor