Health Promotion: a multidisciplinary analysis of the factors affecting practices of professionals

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 29; no. Supplement_4
• Main Authors: Bou Monclús, M A, Casamitjà Sot, M T, Mallolas Jimenez, J, Sunyer Serrat, J, Mantas Jimenez, S, Turró Garriga, O, Ferrer Morell, N, de la Peña Torres, L, Mir Coll, M T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.11.2019; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Budgets; Coordination; Guidelines; Health education; Health promotion; Legislation; Medical personnel; Motivation; Multidisciplinary research; Nurses; Pharmacists; Physicians; Policies; Population studies; Professionals; Psychologists; Public health; Qualitative research; Training; Triangulation; Veterinary surgeons
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.443

Abstract Background The coordination and degree of involvement of health professionals is essential for the success of the implementation of health promotion programmes. We belong to a regional multidisciplinary research group on Health Promotion. The aim of this study was to better ascertain how to empower the health professionals and general population. Methods A qualitative study was conducted among doctors, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists and veterinarians between March 2017 and December 2018. Six focus groups, with 32 women and 20 men purposively selected, were formed to determine the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of Health Promotion in their daily work and to assess their recommendations. Theoretical saturation was reached, and validity of the study was ensured by triangulation. Results The main barriers were: lack of training on Health Promotion which led to demotivation and distrust of own capacities, work overloaded and not valued neither by colleagues nor institutions, weak coordination between care and professional levels, inexistence of common guidelines, a health model based on disease and not addressing the social determinants of health, and, finally, legislation not being adequate. Volunteering, motivation and commitment of professionals were the most outstanding facilitators. Participants highlighted the need for all health professionals to be trained and to improve the budget for Health Promotion. They proposed that all health-related university degrees should incorporate a subject on Health Promotion. Likewise, better coordination between care and different professional levels is required, and the existing legislation should be enhanced for better promoting health. Conclusions The Health in All Policies approach should be provided with enough resources and consider all health disciplines. Further multidisciplinary studies are needed to make the system more people-centred. Key messages More training of health professionals’ skills and improved budget are required to implement health in all policies. Health Promotion policies need coordination and multidisciplinary guidelines.