Implementation of a Zoom Toolkit for Web-Based, Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs

This article describes a project to promote the utilization of online evidence-based programs for the self-management of chronic conditions for older adults. The project has been developed based on the findings of a comprehensive review of literature on the outcomes of online health promotion programs for people with chronic health conditions, and on the training needed prior to starting an online course. The project was completed in partnership with WellConnect®, a non-profit organization facilitating community-based programs that support people in Southeast Minnesota with tools and resources needed to improve individuals’ health and wellbeing. Interviews with WellConnect® stakeholders, leaders, participants, and community members identified the need to develop a Zoom toolkit to assist leaders and participants of online evidence-based programs. Participants’ access to internet, comfort with devices and access to virtual platforms was assessed. The goal was to create a sustainable web-based Zoom toolkit that can be utilized by leaders and participants to facilitate their success in using online evidence-based programs. The toolkit included several components: a step-by-step guide to using Zoom to attend a meeting, three short videos, and links to other resources including one-to-one technical assistance. The toolkit was evaluated by the authors using a pre- and post-toolkit usage survey that addressed usability and self-efficacy. Although post-survey responses were low, comments suggested that the toolkit has the potential to prepare older adults to utilize Zoom to access evidence-based health promotion programs

LifeSteps: An Evidence-based Health Promotion Program for Underserved Populations – A Community Service Learning Approach

Chronic diseases are the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems in the United States. Chronic diseases represent the leading causes of death and are experienced at higher rates by minority populations (CDC, 2012). Innovative community-based health promotion programs are recommended that meet the diverse needs of underserved populations (Yeary, et al., 2011). LifeSteps is being developed as an evidence-based health promotion program focusing on health and wellness, a domain area defined within the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF, 2008). LifeSteps will utilize a client-centered approach to coach individuals in making health behavior changes. Fieldwork and service-learning components are incorporated integrating clinical practice, academic study, and collaboration with community providers. Program evaluation measures based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) have been identified to address all phases of program planning. The LifeSteps health promotion program aligns with local, national, and international objectives and addresses the need for programs that meet the diverse needs of underserved populations. Occupational therapists are in a unique position for implementing community-based interventions that promote health and contribute to a healthier society

Understanding and Improving Older Male Participation and Older Adult Adherence in Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs

The aging population and burden of chronic conditions have led researchers and practitioners to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs (EBPs) for older adults. The Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative (HARC) was established to make EBPs including Diabetes Self-Management Program, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, Matter of Balance, and EnhanceFitness (EF) accessible in south Florida. According to the REAIM model, reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance determine the impact of EBPs. Evaluation of HARC demonstrated widespread adoption of EBPs by community organizations that reached diverse participants and effectiveness among participants attending the recommended number of sessions, but only 19% of EBP participants were male, and only 25% of EF participants met attendance criteria for adherence. This mixed-methods dissertation explored program instructor and coordinator perspectives on barriers and strategies related to male participation in EBPs, examined predictors of short-term and long-term adherence to EF, and applied a theoretical framework to explore participant and instructor perspectives on factors influencing adherence to EF. Fourteen program coordinators participated in a focus group to identify barriers and strategies to improve male participation, and 49 instructors participated in a survey to triangulate findings. Themes among barriers to male participation included women outnumbering men in programs, incompatibility of programs with male gender roles, and preference for other activities. Themes among strategies included endorsement by male community leaders, advertisements featuring males, and content adaptation. Among 5,619 EF participants, logistic regression confirmed age, race/ethnicity, gender, and health status as significant predictors of adherence. The likelihood of short-term and long-term adherence increased with age and health. Black participants were less likely than whites to adhere short-term (OR=0.82, p=.05) but more likely to adhere long-term (OR=1.77, p=.000). Hispanics were more likely than whites to adhere short-term (OR=1.25, p=.008) and long-term (OR=1.30, p=.001). Men were more likely to meet the criteria for short-term (OR=1.47, p=.001) and long-term adherence (OR=1.19, p=.04). Interviews with 12 adherent EF participants and 10 instructors revealed cues to action, goals, beliefs, intentions, program factors, social factors, and benefits that supported adherence. Findings inform efforts to improve participation and adherence in EBPs and maximize their impact on health among older adults

A role for workforce competencies in evidence-based health promotion education

Education programs should be based on research about the knowledge and skills required for practice, rather than on intuition or tradition, but there is limited published curriculum research on health promotion education. This paper describes a case study of how workforce competencies have been used to assist evidence-based health promotion education in the areas of curriculum design, selection of assessment tasks and continuous quality assurance processes in an undergraduate program at an Australian university. A curriculum-competency mapping process successfully identified gaps and areas of overlap in an existing program. Previously published health promotion workforce competencies were effectively used in the process of selecting assessment items, providing clear guidelines for curriculum revision and a useful method to objectively assess competency content in an evidence informed framework. These health promotion workforce competencies constituted an additional tool to assess course quality. We recommend other tertiary institutions consider curriculum-competency mapping and curriculum based assessment selection as quality and evidence based curriculum review strategies.<br /

Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Communicable Disease: Basis for Evidence Based Health Promotion and Early Response - Practical Perspective

The adoption by WHO’s member states of the International Health Regulations (2005) represents a paradigm shift away from mandatory reporting of specific diseases to a requirement for ministries of health to notify WHO concerning any potential Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The European Union (EU) has also issued legislation on CDS&C, epidemic early warning and response, bioterrorism, and large number of related fields, including food safety, water quality, zoonotic diseases, blood safety, border controls, data protection and confidentiality etc, that are binding on EU member states. Harmonisation of national public health legislation to this acquis communautaire is a requirement for accession to the EU. This paper reviews the key guidance on strengthening CDS&C systems to meet the IHR and EU requirements, and it attempts to give a brief overview of international resources and implementation activities. If WHO member states are to respect the deadline of 2012 for achieving the stated IHR minimum core capacities, significant domestic investment will also be required, particularly for laboratory strengthening. Furthermore, Field Epidemiology Training Programmes and laboratory scientist training schemes will need to be established within the context of attractive careers in public health

The CDC Healthy Aging Research Network: advancing science toward action and policy for the evidence-based health promotion movement

abstract: Despite recent progress in the uptake of evidence-based health promotion (EBHP) programs within communities, many factors contribute to the need to focus on dissemination. These include the growth in the aging population, health care resource limitations, and interests in preserving community-based opportunities for maintaining independence and maximizing quality of life. For these reasons, The Prevention Research Centers’ Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Healthy Aging Program, has as its core mission, to translate effective healthy aging interventions into sustainable community-based programs. Researchers and community-based stakeholders collaborate across HAN’s seven member center and two affiliate universities (Figure 1) to develop and implement health promotion programs for older adults at individual, organizational, environmental, and policy levels (1–3). This commentary highlights selected HAN contributions to the EBHP movement from 2001 to 2014. These contributions serve as examples of potential models for future partnership efforts to enhance implementation, dissemination, and sustainability of EBHP programs.View the article as published at http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00261/ful

Educação Para a Saúde Baseada em Evidências

Resumo Este artigo descreve a forma como o conceito “evidência” evoluiu na área da saúde e os princípios e metodologias adotados na sua exploração, especialmente na educação para a saúde. Foi efetuada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados Pubmed/Medline para identificar publicações originais, editoriais e artigos de revisão sobre a temática em estudo, com recurso às seguintes palavras-chave, “health education”, “evidence based medicine”, “evidence based public health”, “health promotion”, “evidence based health promotion”. A utilização do termo “evidência” tornou-se corrente no âmbito do debate em saúde pública e na avaliação das práticas clínicas, em particular na área da prevenção e promoção da saúde. A medicina baseada na evidência consiste numa abordagem que visa integrar o conhecimento clínico individual com a melhor evidência disponível resultante de uma investigação sistemática. A abordagem baseada na evidência alargou-se, gradualmente, a outras esferas, desde a saúde pública, às intervenções comunitárias, passando pela educação para a saúde. Assim, surgiram novos conceitos como a saúde pública ou promoção da saúde baseada na evidência. No entanto, novos desafios se colocam quando se pretende explorar o efeito de intervenções nas comunidades, envolvendo novas abordagens na exploração da melhor evidência disponível. O debate sobre a promoção e educação para saúde baseada na evidência tem-se centrado em duas questões essenciais: qual o tipo de evidência que deve ser explorada de forma a estabelecer a sua efetividade e quais as metodologias mais adequadas na exploração dessas evidências.Abstract This paper focuses on how the concept of evidence evolved in the health domain, the principles and methodologies adopted in its exploitation, especially in health promotion and education. We performed a search in the Pubmed/Medline to identify original publications, editorials and review articles about the subject in study using the following keywords, "health education", "evidence based medicine", "evidence based public health", "health promotion", "evidence based health promotion". The use of the term ‘evidence’ in the evaluation of medical practices has become widely debated in the public health domain, particularly in the field of health promotion and health education. The evidence-based medicine aims to integrate the individual clinical experience with the best available evidence based on systematic reviews. The evidence approach gradually extended to other domains, from public health to health promotion or education. Consequently, new concepts emerged such as evidence-based public health or evidence-based health promotion. Still, new challenges arise when assessing the effect of interventions among communities, involving new approaches when exploring the best evidence. The debate on health promotion and education based on evidence has focused on two main concerns: what type of evidence should be explored in order to establish its effectiveness and which are the most appropriate methodologies for the exploitation of this evidence