Mandates for PHN Action, Intervention Research & Strategy Options Flashcards
Mandates for action - policy context:
Influence PHN practice - local & national health policies, legislation, professional standards, ethical guidelines
E.g. govt passes policy mandating reduction of sugar content in packaged foods = APDs can align interventions with this policy by conducting awareness campaigns about harmful effects of excess sugar consumption
Policy development process stages:
problem identification, formulation, implementation, evaluation
E.g. addressing rising childhood obesity rates -> health department identifies the problem -> formulates policy to ban unhealthy food advertising near schools -> implements the ban through regulations -> evaluate the impact on kid’s dietary choices & health outcomes
Competing policy agendas:
need for public support, clear problem definition, lack of competing interesting, political backing
E.g. Advocacy group campaigns for warning label policy on sugary drinks but beverage manufacturers lobby against it = outcome depends on public awareness, evidence of health risks & political consideration
National food & nutrition policies:
set priorities, articulate commitments & provide a framework for addressing nutrition-related health issues
E.g. A country develops a national nutrition policy focusing on reducing childhood malnutrition. APDs implement interventions like distributing fortified foods in schools & conduction nutrition education sessions = aligns with policy’s objectives
Challenges & implementation of policies:
lack of funding, coordination & expertise; emphasises need for PHN practitioners to understand budget allocations & collaborate with multiple ministries
E.g. A national nutrition policy aims to improve access to fresh produce in low-income neighbourhoods. APDs/PHN practitioners work with local farmer’s markets, community organisations & city planning departments to establish farmers markets in underserved areas
Aligning with mandates & funding agencies:
enhances the chances of securing financial support
E.g. A PHN practitioner proposes a school-based nutrition education program. They align the program with the national health ministry’s obesity prevention goals & secure funding from a health focused non-profit organisation.
Strategic frameworks for health promotion:
provide structured approaches to planning & implementing interventions -> guide selection & sequencing of strategies to address issues
E.g. Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion emphasises building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills & reorienting health services. In context of PHN, this could involve policies to regulate food ads to kids, increasing availability of healthy foods in schools etc
Levels of intervention:
individual, community, systemic -> different determinants of health & aims to bring about change
E.g. Individual level = providing nutrition education to improve dietary choices. Community level = creating a community garden to increase access to fresh produce. Systemic level = regulations to limit marketing of unhealthy foods to kids
Target groups as a focus for intervention:
tailor interventions to specific population groups particularly affected by a health issue = improve effectiveness by addressing unique needs
E.g. childhood obesity = target parents & caregivers by providing resources & support to create health meals for kids = cooking classes, recipe demos, educational material
Intervention research:
learning from earlier work to gather insights into what strategies have been effective in addressing health issues, outcomes achieve & lessons learned
E.g. Review of past interventions aimed at reducing sugary drinks consumption in adolescents. Finds school-based campaigns plus changes in school vending machine contents was successful in reducing sugary drink consumption & increasing H2O intake
Abstraction of intelligence from intervention research:
to systematically analyse & summarise information to inform design of new interventions
E.g. An abstraction table created to categorise & summarise findings from different studies on interventions to promote BF: highlights strategies used, target population, outcomes, key lessons learned
How do policies impact PHN practice?
They influence service delivery models, resource allocation, and actions for promoting public health nutrition (PHN).
What are mandates for action in PHN?
PHN practice is shaped by local & national health policies, legislation, professional standards, and ethical guidelines.
What factors influence policy success?
Public support, clear problem definition, lack of competing interests, and political backing.
What are the stages of the policy development process?
Problem Identification – Recognising a health issue (e.g., rising childhood obesity rates).
Formulation – Creating a policy (e.g., banning unhealthy food ads near schools).
Implementation – Enforcing the policy (e.g., applying regulations).
Evaluation – Assessing impact (e.g., monitoring dietary changes).
What role do national food & nutrition policies play in PHN?
Set priorities.
Articulate commitments.
Provide a framework for addressing nutrition-related health issues.
What challenges exist in implementing nutrition policies?
Lack of funding.
Coordination issues.
Limited expertise.
How can PHN practitioners support policy implementation?
Collaborate with ministries, secure budget allocations, and engage stakeholders (e.g., setting up farmers’ markets in underserved areas).
Why is aligning with mandates & funding agencies important?
It enhances the chances of securing financial support for PHN interventions.
What is the purpose of strategic frameworks for health promotion?
They provide structured approaches for planning and implementing interventions.
What are the different levels of intervention in PHN?
Individual level: Nutrition education to improve dietary choices.
Community level: Community gardens to increase access to fresh produce.
Systemic level: Policy changes, such as restricting unhealthy food marketing.
What are the key action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion?
Building healthy public policy.
Creating supportive environments.
Strengthening community action.
Developing personal skills.
Reorienting health services.
Why are target groups important in intervention planning?
Tailoring interventions to specific populations improves effectiveness by addressing unique needs.
Provide an example of a target group-based intervention.
Childhood obesity prevention: Educating parents & caregivers through cooking classes and nutrition education.
How does intervention research improve PHN strategies?
By learning from past strategies to determine what worked, what didn’t, and why.
Give an example of how intervention research informs new strategies.
Reviewing previous interventions to reduce sugary drink consumption, showing success in school-based campaigns and vending machine modifications.
What is abstraction of intelligence in PHN research?
Systematically analysing and summarising findings from past interventions to inform new strategies.
How is abstraction of intelligence applied in PHN?
Creating tables summarising findings from different studies (e.g., breastfeeding promotion interventions, strategies used, and key outcomes).
