Determinants of health promotion action: comparative analysis of local voluntary associations in four municipalities in Finland.

The World Health Organization makes a case for the importance of voluntary organizations in promoting health at local levels. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understanding which factors explain local voluntary associations (LVAs) participation in health promotion in local contexts. It does so through (i) identifying indicators that represent determinants of health promotion action which were reported by LVAs and by (ii) comparing their actions with these determinants. The data reported are from a questionnaire survey of all registered LVAs in four municipalities in Finland. Principal component analysis revealed four determinants of health promotion action. Four factors in the final multivariate model explained over half of the variance of LVAs engagement in health promotion action: competence, values 'healthy' and also opportunities and municipality. There is some evidence to support a model of health promotion action which has not been tested empirically in relation to these types of organization. More detailed studies of determinants of health promotion action are needed to shape strategies in local communities.

Bicentenario de la Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna, 1803 a 1806-2003 a 2006 / No disponible

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Dental aid organisations: baseline data about their reality today.

AIM: To collect basic data about non-governmental dental aid organisations on a global scale and thus contribute to a better understanding of their diversity, activities and limitations. METHODS: Data was collected through a mailed questionnaire to all organisations listed by the FDI World Dental Federation. A second questionnaire was e-mailed to those organisations identified as non-governmental organisations (NGO) by the first questionnaire. FINDINGS: The response rate to the first questionnaire to detect NGOs was 36.2%, to the second e-mailed form 84.4%. About two thirds of NGOs originated in developed countries, one third responded from developing countries. The majority had been established after 1980. Developed countries dental NGOs tended to have larger membership and disposed of greater budgets. In general, income was generated predominantly from donations and own resources. The workforce was primarily based on volunteers. High priority activities: service provision, education and training, technical assistance, community development. Measures for quality assurance showed low complexity. Frequent areas of problems were associated with funding and staff. Collaborative links with other stakeholders in development were weak and focussed on information exchange. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for NGOs, donors, FDI and future research are developed.

An organizational model of community health agencies for health education internships.

An essential element in the preparation of aspiring health care professionals is the internship experience. It is usually identified, by student and professionals alike, as the single most important aspect of training. The selection of any agency which provides such a vital function, however, can be confusing. There are thousands of different community health agencies which are specifically concerned with a particular aspect of human health for some designated subset of the general population. These agencies range from the well known giants like the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, and the National Institutes of Health, to the less well know but equally important agencies like Compassionate Friends and the National Atoxia Foundation. The purpose of this article is to identify a classification system that will organize the seemingly disparate health care industry. It is hoped that this system will enable users, such as aspiring young professionals seeking field placement or employment, or local consumers seeking assistance for a health problem, to distinguish among the plethora of agencies, institutions, and organizations concerned with health/medical care and make intelligent choices concerning their selection and utilization.