Status of school health programs in Asia: National policy and implementation.

BACKGROUND: The WHO's Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework is based on an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between health and education, and the need to take a holistic approach to health promotion in schools. We aim to clarify the degree to which the HPS framework is reflected in the national policies of eight target countries and the issues surrounding its successful implementation. METHODS: Date were collected through two expert workshops with participants from eight Asian countries: Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand. In the first workshop, data collected on national policy were mapped against the HPS framework. From this, key issues were identified, and follow-up data collection was conducted in each country for a second workshop. RESULTS: We identified a policy shift toward the HPS framework in six out of the eight countries. Neither Japan nor Korea had changed their national policy frameworks to reflect an HPS approach; however, in the latter, model programs had been introduced at a local level. We identified various barriers to successful implementation, especially in relation to mental health and wellbeing. CONCLUSION: Given the recent shift toward the HPS approach in six out of the eight countries in this study, there is a need to conduct research to assess the impact of this framework on the health and wellbeing of students and school staff. At the same time, we call for more dialog in the context of Japan to explore the possible benefits of introducing the HPS framework into schools.

Comparison of the risks of occupational diseases, avoidable hospitalization, and all-cause deaths between firefighters and non-firefighters: A cohort study using national health insurance claims data.

Objectives: National Health Insurance claims data were used to compare the incidence of occupational diseases, avoidable hospitalization, and all-cause death standardized incidence ratio and hazard ratio between firefighters and non-firefighters. Methods: The observation period of the study was from 2006 to 2015 and a control group (general workers and national and regional government officers/public educational officers) and a firefighter group was established. The dependent variables were occupational diseases, avoidable hospitalization (AH), and all-cause death. The analysis was conducted in three stages. First, the standardized incidence ratios were calculated using the indirect standardization method to compare the prevalence of the disease between the groups (firefighter and non-firefighter groups). Second, propensity score matching was performed for each disease in the control group. Third, the Cox proportional hazards model was applied by matching the participants. Results: The standardized incidence ratio and Cox regression analyses revealed higher rates of noise-induced hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, back pain, admission due to injury, mental illness, depression, and AH for firefighters than general workers. Similarly, the rates of noise-induced hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, back pain, admission due to injury, mental illness, depression, and AH were higher in the firefighter group than in the national and regional government officer/public educational officer group. Conclusions: The standardized incidence ratios and hazard ratios for most diseases were high for firefighters. Therefore, besides the prevention and management of diseases from a preventive medical perspective, management programs, including social support and social prescriptions in the health aspect, are needed.

Principles and strategies for aisles communities empowerment in creating Makassar Healthy City, Indonesia.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the characteristics of the aisles communities and to identify the principles and strategies for empowering alley communities in realizing the Makassar Healthy City. METHOD: The method used in this research was a qualitative method. Data collection was carried out through an extensive literature review, FGD, and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: This research identified the characteristics of the aisles community. This research also found that empowerment of aisles communities can be built with holistic principles, commitment to alley health, leadership, participation, synergy, independence, equality, and sustainability. The development strategies for the aisle communities can be carried out through regulation, the principles of brains and muscles (thinkers and workers), organizations/work groups, community education, funding, and advocacy. CONCLUSION: Synergy and convergence action of the aisles program that has the leverage/effect in realizing a clean, comfortable, safe, healthy, and productive aisles is needed.

Effectiveness of a comprehensive blood pressure control program in primary health care in Peru / Efectividad de un programa de control integral de la presión arterial en la atención primaria de salud en Perú / Eficácia de um programa abrangente de controle da pressão arterial na atenção primária à saúde no Peru

ABSTRACT Objective. To assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive blood pressure (BP) control program on improving lifestyle indicators, BP levels, and laboratory examination results among people living in low-income urban areas of Peru. Methods. A prospective before-and-after study design was applied to 1 271 participants with hypertension or pre-hypertension. The intervention was implemented for 2 years, from May 2015 - April 2017, in three health centers in Lima (2 in Comas and 1 in Callao). The changes in participants over the study period were compared. All participants were provided with individualized consultations, group health education sessions, regular group meetings to improve self-management, and text messages providing health education. Paired t- and chi-square tests were used to determine the significance of the changes in indicators before and after the intervention. Results. Lifestyle behaviors, such as weight and blood pressure monitoring, reduced salt consumption, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and stress control improved during the intervention (P < 0.001). The EuroQol-Five Dimension Scale showed improvement (P < 0.001) and body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic BPs of the participants significantly decreased (P < 0.001). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride decreased (P < 0.01) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased after the program (P < 0.001). Conclusions. This comprehensive BP control program was effective in improving lifestyle indicators, BP levels, and laboratory results among people living in a low-income urban area of Peru. Increasing opportunities for BP measurement, systematic management of hypertensive patients, and community-based prevention and education programs are paramount to hypertension detection, prevention, and control.(AU)

RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad de un programa de control integral de la presión arterial (PA) para mejorar los indicadores relativos al modo de vida, los niveles de PA y los resultados de laboratorio en personas que viven en zonas urbanas de ingresos bajos en Perú. Métodos. Mediante un estudio prospectivo se analizó la situación antes y después de 1.271 personas que presentaban hipertensión arterial y prehipertensión. Esta intervención se llevó a cabo desde mayo del 2015 hasta abril del 2017 en tres centros de salud de Lima (2 en Comas y 1 en Callao), y se compararon los cambios experimentados por las personas durante el estudio. Todos los participantes recibieron consultas personalizadas, reuniones grupales para mejorar el autocuidado y sesiones grupales de educación sobre salud, al igual que mensajes de texto al respecto. Se recurrió a la prueba de la t para datos emparejados y la prueba de la x2 para establecer la significación estadística de los cambios en los indicadores antes y después de la intervención. Resultados. Los comportamientos relativos al modo de vida, como el seguimiento de la presión arterial y del peso, el menor consumo de sal, el mayor consumo de frutas y verduras y el mejor control del nivel de estrés, mejoraron durante la intervención (P < 0,001). El EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) mostró mejora (P < 0,001), mientras que el índice de masa corporal, el perímetro de la cintura, la presión arterial diastólica y la sistólica de los participantes disminuyeron de manera significativa (P < 0,001). El colesterol de las lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL-C) y los triglicéridos disminuyeron (P < 0,001), mientras que el colesterol de las HDL (HDL-C) aumentó. La filtración glomerular estimada (eGFR) aumentó después del programa (P < 0,001). Conclusiones: este programa de control integral de la PA resultó efectivo para mejorar los indicadores relativos al modo de vida, los niveles de PA y los resultados de laboratorio en las personas que viven en zonas urbanas de ingresos bajos en Perú. Aumentar las oportunidades para la medición de la PA, el manejo sistemático de pacientes con hipertensión arterial y los programas de prevención y educación a nivel comunitario son sumamente importantes para detectar, prevenir y controlar la hipertensión arterial.(AU)

RESUMO Objetivo. Avaliar a eficácia de um programa abrangente de controle da pressão arterial (PA) na melhoria de indicadores do estilo de vida, dos níveis de PA e dos resultados de exames laboratoriais entre pessoas que vivem em áreas urbanas de baixa renda no Peru. Métodos. Utilizamos um desenho de estudo prospectivo do tipo pré/pós-intervenção para estudar 1.271 participantes com hipertensão ou pré-hipertensão. A intervenção foi implementada durante 2 anos, de maio de 2015 a abril de 2017, em três centros de saúde em Lima (2 em Comas e 1 em Callao). Comparamos as mudanças nos participantes ao longo do período do estudo. Todos os pacientes participaram de consultas individualizadas, sessões em grupo para educação em saúde e reuniões em grupo regulares para melhorar a autogestão; além disso, receberam mensagens de texto para a educação em saúde. Utilizamos testes t e testes do qui-quadrado pareados para determinar a significância das mudanças nos indicadores antes e após a intervenção. Resultados. Comportamentos relacionados ao estilo de vida, tais como o monitoramento do peso e da pressão arterial, a redução do consumo de sal, o maior consumo de frutas e vegetais e o controle do estresse, melhoraram durante a intervenção (p<0,001). A Escala de Cinco Dimensões EuroQol melhorou (p<0,001), e o índice de massa corporal, a circunferência abdominal e a PA sistólica e diastólica dos participantes diminuíram significativamente (p<0,001). O colesterol de baixa densidade (LDL) e os triglicerídeos diminuíram (p<0,01), e o colesterol de alta densidade (HDL) aumentou. A taxa de filtração glomerular estimada (TFGe) aumentou após o programa (p<0,001). Conclusões. Este programa abrangente de controle da PA foi eficaz na melhoria de indicadores do estilo de vida, dos níveis de PA e dos resultados laboratoriais entre pessoas que vivem em uma área urbana de baixa renda no Peru. O aumento das oportunidades para a medição da PA, a gestão sistemática de pacientes hipertensos e programas comunitários de prevenção e educação são fundamentais para detectar, prevenir e controlar a hipertensão.(AU)