Creating supportive eating places: a systematic review of food service initiatives
SummaryObesity and diet-related health problems are complex, multi-factorial issues. Individual food choices are shaped by the wider context, and food environment level change is needed to support individual behaviour change. The food service sector can play an integral role, changing aspects of the food environment and contributing to improved consumer health. This systematic review aimed to analyse food service schemes that aimed to improve consumer health. Ten electronic databases were systematically searched to identify articles, supplemented with checking of reference lists from similar reviews and forward and backwar...
Source: Health Promotion International - February 4, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Social network moderators of the association between Ghanaian older adults ’ neighbourhood walkability and social activity
This study examined the moderating influences of active social networks (ASN), sedentary social networks (SSN) and ASN lost on the relationship between neighbourhood walkability and social activity in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or more in Accra, Ghana. A total of 863 individuals participated after G*Power 3.1 was utilized to calculate the minimum sample size. We analysed the data with Pearson’s correlation test and hierarchical linear regression models. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to select the ultimate confounding variables. The study found a positive influence of neighbourhood walkability...
Source: Health Promotion International - February 1, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Factors influencing the implementation of the Health Promoting University initiative: experiences of Ibero-American universities
This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the implementation of HPU initiatives in Ibero-American universities. Semi-structured interviews were held with seventeen representatives of universities in Ibero-America that had implemented an HPU initiative. All interviewees had been involved in the initiative and had occupied a position of responsibility for at least 1 year before the study. The interviews were carried out remotely, and the data were analyzed using an inductive approach. The main factors influencing the implementation of an HPU initiative were political support by the university authorities, coordi...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 30, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
‘Sweet talk’: framing the merits of a sugar tax in Australia
SummaryAlthough rising rates of obesity are recognized as a major concern for Australian public health, debate on what (if any) responsive action should be undertaken is conceptually and normatively complex. It is shaped by diverse values and interests; different representations of the problem; and many options for action by government, the private sector or individuals. This paper presents research documenting arguments for and against implementing a sugar tax in Australia. It is based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from industry (n = 4), public health (n = 4), policy think tanks (n = 2); a...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 26, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
In the name of COVID-19: legitimizing the exclusion of community participation in Ecuador ’s health policySpecial call: Health Promotion Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study critically examines how Ecuador’s government took into consideration ‘community participation’ as a value and tenet of health promotion. Our systematic textual analysis focuses on 53 consecutive resolutions by the National Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) leading the decision-making processes, which, explicitly requires community participation. Results show that the ‘lifecycle’ of the central government’s evolving policy framing centered on law enforcement and the private sector, followed by the social sector. Further, there is no evidenc e of stakeholders from civil society or organizations taki...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 20, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Advancing health literacy measurement in old age
SummaryHealth literacy is described as a domain of competence across the life-span, gaining particular prominence in light of age-associated health restrictions. However, no specific measurement approach has been proposed for old age. The aim of this study is to augment the existing HLS-EU-Q16 scale (16 items) by items sensitive to age-specific aspects of health literacy to ensure validity and reliability for use in old age. In a first step, the HLS-EU-Q16 was administered in a sample of 463 individuals aged 72 − 92 years. Psychometric properties were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis and item-response-...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 19, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Association between health literacy and physical activity in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AbstractPhysical inactivity is common in older people and contributes to morbidity and mortality. Health literacy might play a role in motivating people to become or stay physically active. However, little is known about the influence of health literacy on physical activity in older people. This review aims to determine the association between health literacy and physical activity in older people. A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CENTRAL. Inclusion criteria: (i) community-dwelling people with an average age of ≥55 and (ii) reported on the association between health literacy and physical...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 15, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
A new transdisciplinary research model to investigate and improve the health of the public
SummaryTransdisciplinary research approaches are being applied to today ’s complex health problems, including the climate crisis and widening inequalities. Diverse forms of disciplinary and experiential knowledge are required to understand these challenges and develop workable solutions. We aimed to create an updated model reflective of the strengths and challenges of current transdisciplinary health research that can be a guide for future studies. We searched Medline using terms related to transdisciplinary, health and research. We coded data deductively and inductively using thematic analysis to develop a preliminary m...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 15, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
COVID-19, a tale of two pandemics: novel coronavirus and fake news messaging
SummaryThe emergence of COVID-19, caused by novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, became a pandemic in just 10 weeks. Without effective medications or vaccines available, authorities turned toward mitigation measures such as use of face masks, school ’s closings, shelter-in-place, telework and social distancing. People found refuge on the internet and social media apps; however, there was a proliferation of instant messaging containing hoaxed, deliberate misleading information: fake news messaging (FNM). The aim of this study was to assess FNM through content analysis and to discriminate them in a proposed taxonomy structure. A ...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 15, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Barriers to the enforcement of mandatory seat belt laws in Ghana: an exploratory study
AbstractRoad traffic accidents claim millions of lives every year across the world. Fortunately, effective safety and preventive measures such as routine maintenance of vehicles and roads and the use of seat belts exist. Yet, authorities in some countries fail to enforce laws on these measures. One of the barriers to compliance with traffic laws is poor enforcement. Using a cross-sectional study design, we explored the barriers to the enforcement of mandatory seat belt laws in Ghana. We employed an open-ended key informant interview guide to interview 26 staff of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Poli...
Source: Health Promotion International - January 14, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Health promotion is a pro-active discipline
Health promotion by definition enables people to take control over their health; governmental actions in most of countries of the world in 2020 did exactly the opposite! Most of the foundational values of health promotion such as democracy, evidence-based decision-making, accountability, transparency, equity and ethical conduct went through serious challenges this year. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation stretched health systems, and within them public health —including health promotion. (Source: Health Promotion International)
Source: Health Promotion International - January 3, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Power, control, communities and health inequalities III: participatory spaces —an English case
This article —third in a series of three—uses theoretical frameworks described in Part 1, and empirical markers reported in Part 2, to present evidence on how power dynamics shifted during the early years of a major English community empowerment initiative. We demonstrate how the capabilities disadvantaged c ommunities require to exercise collective control over decisions/actions impacting on their lives and health (conceptualized as emancipatory power) and the exercise of power over these communities (conceptualized as limiting power) were shaped by the characteristics of participatory spaces created b y and/or associ...
Source: Health Promotion International - December 31, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Power, control, communities and health inequalities I: theories, concepts and analytical frameworks
SummaryThis is Part I of a three-part series on community empowerment as a route to greater health equity. We argue that community ‘empowerment’ approaches in the health field are increasingly restricted to aninward gaze on community psycho-social capacities and proximal neighbourhood conditions, neglecting theoutward gaze on political and social transformation for greater equity embedded in foundational statements on health promotion. We suggest there are three imperatives if these approaches are to contribute to increased equity. First, to understand pathways from empowerment to health equity and drivers of the depol...
Source: Health Promotion International - December 31, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Power, control, communities and health inequalities. Part II: measuring shifts in power
This article, Part 2 in a three-part series, takes up the challenge of identifying qualitative markers of capabilities for collective control. We applied the emancipatory power framework (EPF) reported in Part 1 of the series, to qualitative data generated during a longitudinal evaluation of a major English area-based empowerment initiative, the Big Local (BL). We identified empirical ‘markers’ of shifts towards greater collective control pertaining to each of the ‘power’ dimensions in the EPF—‘power within’, ‘power with’ and ‘power to’—and markers of communities exercising ‘power over’ other in...
Source: Health Promotion International - December 31, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
The relationship between general health behaviors and general health literacy levels in the Turkish population
SummaryThe purpose of our study was to determine the health literacy level of the study participants and examine the relationship between health literacy levels and sociodemographic characteristics, health self-assessment levels and health protective behaviors. We recruited 826 individuals into the study, selecting the participants by using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected with a descriptive information form, the European Health Literacy Scale and a General Health Behaviors Scale. The analysis of the data was carried out using numbers and percentages, the Chi Square test and ordinal regression analy...
Source: Health Promotion International - December 30, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
