Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
promotion, health education, public health and disease prevention
were used interchangeably. The respondents/participants commonly
sited a child health, maternal health and a disease-orientated or
lifestyle approach for engaging in health promotion. Their health
promotion activity usually incorporated an educational, empowering
or behavioural method. Their role in promoting population health
was defined as working with specific population groups both within
and beyond their case loads. Thirty seven respondents (62.7%)
reported that they are currently working at a population health
level. Approaches utilised include; advocacy, community health
initiatives, area/community profiling and multidisciplinary team
working. Workload priorities, lack of time, lack of management
support and feeling undervalued, were identified as barriers to the
role.
Overall, PHNs had varied views about a vision for their role in
promoting population health. A number of PHNs welcomed the
perspective of developing new approaches to working, having more
support and greater role recognition. Managerial support and team
working were seen as enabling factors. Further research is
recommended to clarify the skills, knowledge and attitudes that
PHNs perceive are required for working at a population health level.
Back to contents page
- 392 -