Health promotion practices in primary care groups

Abstract

This is a descriptive-exploratory study using a qualitative approach, conducted in ten municipalities in southern Brazil. Data were obtained by talking to 21 nurses from February to November 2012, through semi-structured interviews using questions to probe their health promotion practices. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis focused on health promotion concepts. We identified four themes about health promotion practices of family health nurses in Brazil: a) training of nurses for health promotion practice was weak; b) nurses formed health promotion groups around diseases and life stages; c) nurses formed groups to meet community needs; and d) nurses used health promotion techniques in group work. These family health nurses were somewhat aware of the importance of health promotion, and how to assist the population against various ailments using some health promotion strategies. The main weaknesses were the lack of understanding about health promotion concepts, and the difficulty of understanding the relevance of its practice, probably attributable to limitations in training. We conclude that primary care groups in Brazil's unified health system could do better in applying health promotion concepts in their practice.

Nurses’ role in health promotion and prevention: A critical interpretive synthesis

“…Some authors describe nurses' activities or partnerships within the community to address specific determinants of health, such as physical exercise and sexual or emotional health (Hernandez & Anderson, 2012; Larsson et al., 2014; Marent et al., 2018; Morrison‐Sandberg et al., 2011; Onnela et al., 2014; Ribera, McKenna, & Riddoch, 2005; Samarasinghe et al., 2010). Nurses strive to maintain sustainable relationships with other institutions at the local level, including neighbourhoods, community workers, churches, the volunteer sector, fitness centres, teachers, food service staff at schools and city councils (Heidemann et al, 2019; Kwatubana, 2018; Manasatchakun, Choowattanapakorn, Roxberg, & Asp, 2018; Marent et al., 2018; Morrison‐Sandberg et al., 2011; Muckian et al., 2017; Onnela et al., 2014; Ribera et al., 2005; Samarasinghe et al., 2010). In the hospital setting, nurses support patient involvement within the community and organise patients' clubs both inside and outside hospitals to increase emotional support from other individuals with identical pathologies (Pham & Ziegert, 2016).…”

“…A few papers demonstrate that community assessment is a common nursing activity in HPP (Gonzaga et al., 2014; Heidemann et al, 2019; Hoekstra et al., 2016; Whitehead et al., 2008), but there are no examples of bringing people together to discuss, plan and develop community action. This evidence illustrates an important misalignment with the Ottawa Charter's definition of strengthening community action.…”

Nurse’s competences in promoting women’s health in light of the Galway Consensus

“…2.436/17, which approves the National Policy on Primary Care, the duties of nurses working in Primary Care are described: carrying out nursing consultations, requesting additional tests, and prescribing medications, following the legal provisions of the profession in compliance with protocols or other technical regulations established by the Ministry of Health. Such elements demonstrate the autonomy that these professionals can and should exercise in the health service (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) .…”

“…Among these attributions are health promotion actions, which aim to support, understand and guide, more broadly, the methods and strategies for individuals to maximize control over their own health. Therefore, it is important that nurses are prepared, as of their training process, to perform such actions through competences, so that there are positive results among the population receiving care (4)(5) .…”

Determinantes sociais como caminho para promover saúde no pré-natal: percepção dos profissionais da atenção primária

“…Prevalecem dois discursos distintos: um, com ênfase na modificação dos comportamentos individuais; e outro, que busca avançar para uma perspectiva libertadora, pelo fortalecimento do conhecimento de diferentes significados e conceitos, bem como múltiplas ações e perspectivas. 1 Em 1986 foi realizada I Conferência Internacional sobre Promoção da Saúde, quando foi divulgada a Carta de Ottawa que conceitua promoção da saúde como o processo que busca possibilitar que as pessoas e a comunidade aumentem o controle e a melhoria da saúde. Nesta carta foram estabelecidas cinco estratégias prioritárias para atuação, as quais são: implementação de políticas saudáveis; criação de ambientes favoráveis à saúde; reorientação dos serviços de saúde; reforço da ação comunitária; e, desenvolvimento de habilidades pessoais.…”