Topic:Health Promotion Programs
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“Evidence-based health promotion programs for schools and communities” written by Inman, Bakergem, LaRosa and Garr in 2011 examines health promotion programs as applied in schools and communities. Healthcare providers have the task of identifying the best recipients for identified health programs. The Healthy People 2020 is a healthcare framework available to healthcare workers to facilitate comprehensive health education in schools and communities. The objectives of the program covers drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, STD’s, suicide, violence, unwanted pregnancy and unintentional injury in elementary school, middle school and high schools. Other pertinent health concerns unhealthy diets and limited physical activity that have led to increased incidences of childhood obesity. The school based health promotion framework follows the WHO Health Promoting Schools Framework that follow the progression of health education from the student to the family, school, community, and finally society leading to an overall healthy culture.
The second article is a critical review of 27 new studies conducted between 2008 and 2010 that examined the clinical and cost outcomes of health promotional programs on work-sites (Palletier, 2011). The review, published in the journal for occupational and environmental medicine, is necessary because corporations and governments are demanding evidence based proof for the effectiveness of health promotion programs. Palletier (2011) compared the results of randomized clinical trials (RCT) found that one critical element of workplace healthcare interventions is risk reduction. Risk reduction is necessary for the comprehensive health coverage of high risk employees. He also notes that the quality of the studies conducted in the two years under review have improved in number and quality. The results of his review are therefore reliable in determining the potential positive impact of health promotion activities for corporate organizations and governments (Pelletier, 2011). After reading this review, organizations that are considering healthcare promotion programs should no longer worry about whether the programs will work. Instead, they should focus on how such programs will be designed, implemented and evaluated to achieve optimal cost effectiveness and clinical success for participants.
Health promotion relies on education and other targeted interventions to change the behavior of a specific population or the public as well as the environment in ways that are beneficial for health outcomes. The primary goals of health promotion are optimal health, maximum productivity and reduced health related costs. Health promotion programs are often conducted in schools and work site scenarios. An effective work place health promotion program can foster vitality, increase motivation, and contribute to overall human capital effectiveness. Health promotion activities have the ability to impact policy and practices for individuals, organizations, and governments.
From the two summarized articles, we can deduce that common health promotion elements are health education, health screening, provision of a supportive environment and linkages with other health promotion programs to enhance outcomes. Health education programs impart essential knowledge on diseases, health risks and lifestyle behavior change patterns. Health screening enables program coordinators to identify prevailing health risks and evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing interventions. Linkages in health promotion are necessary for increasing cross functionality between various components of a health promotion program. Linkages also improve on integration of health promotion programs within the organization.
Since health promotion activities involve a considerable monetary and time investment, it is imperative that healthcare promoters are able to justify dollar expenditures on health promotion activities. The cost of curative medical interventions is very high and governments as well as individual healthcare consumers and providers are actively seeking alternative solutions to healthcare problems. Preventative healthcare in the form of health promotion programs is one viable solution for tackling runaway healthcare costs.
Health promotion services can be integrated into small homogeneous groups such as an elementary class in a school or a medium sized company. The results of a successful program can be easily multiplied an expanded into other groups and expanded eventually to include an entire community. The biggest advantage of using health promotional services to improve the overall health of a group of people is that positive clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness is guaranteed if the program is designed and implemented correctly.
- References
Inman, D. D., van Bakergem, K. M., LaRosa, A. C., & Garr, D. R. (2011). Evidence-based health promotion programs for schools and communities. American journal of preventive medicine, 40(2), 207-219.
Pelletier, K. R. (2011). A review and analysis of the clinical and cost-effectiveness studies of comprehensive health promotion and disease management programs at the worksite: update VIII 2008 to 2010. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 53(11), 1310-1331.