European public health best practice portal - process and criteria for best practice assessment.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are major and growing burden on population health and the use and cost of healthcare in EU Member States and beyond. Different countries face many common challenges in public health and can learn from each other. The exchange of 'best practices' is one way to tackle the observed disparities in health sector. To address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the European Commission developed the EU Public Health Best Practice Portal to facilitate the exchange of best practices and facilitate their implementation in other EU countries or regions. The ultimate aim of the portal is to reduce NCDs burden and the prevalence of their risk factors by promoting implementation and scale up of evidence-based effective interventions in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention and management of NCDs. RESULTS: This article presents the rationale and the process, ranging from best practice assessment to their transfer to interested Member States, applied in the EU Public Health Best Practice Portal. The portal selects best practices using rigorously defined criteria for best practice assessment. This article further provides an overview of other similar initiatives in Europe and internationally that collect and disseminate information on interventions and actions to combat NCDs. CONCLUSION: Exchange of best practices is a promising tool in tackling NCDs. Transfer and scaling up of policies and interventions between countries may contribute to tackle disparities observed between countries in regards to the prevalence of risk factors and associated diseases.

Food-based dietary guidelines and implementation: lessons from four countries--Chile, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are globally promoted as an important part of national food and nutrition policies. They are presented within policy as key features of the strategy to educate the public and guide policy-makers and other stakeholders about a healthy diet. This paper examines the implementation of FBDGs in four countries: Chile, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa - diverse countries chosen to explore the realities of the FBDG within policy on public health nutrition. DESIGN: A literature review was carried out, followed by interviews with representatives from the governmental, academic and private sector in all four countries. RESULTS: In all four countries the FBDG is mainly implemented via written/electronic information provided to the public through the health and/or education sector. Data about the impact of FBDGs on policy and consumers' food choice or dietary habits are incomplete; nutrition surveys do not enable assessment of how effective FBDGs are as a factor in dietary or behavioural change. Despite limitations, FBDGs are seen as being valuable by key stakeholders. CONCLUSION: FBDGs are being implemented and there is experience which should be built upon. The policy focus needs to move beyond merely disseminating FBDGs. They should be part of a wider public health nutrition strategy involving multiple sectors and policy levels. Improvements in the implementation of FBDGs are crucial given the present epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases.

Training Chilean primary health care professionals in nutrition for noncommunicable disease prevention.

OBJECTIVES: To assess three related issues: (1) the need for training in nutrition and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as perceived by primary health care (PHC) personnel in Chile, (2) those health workers' preferred sources of training to learn about that subject, and (3) reactions to some materials that were later developed to help meet the needs that were identified. METHODS: In the summer of 2001 a questionnaire survey was used with PHC staff members in 3 of Chile's 13 regions in order to evaluate their perceived need for training in nutrition and NCD prevention as well as their preferred sources of continuing education. As a follow-up to the 2001 survey, in 2002, information material was prepared on using diet and physical activity to prevent NCDs. The information package was introduced through a series of workshops in all the regions of Chile. An evaluation in 2003 assessed the reactions to the new material. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-one valid questionnaires from the 2001 survey were analyzed. The participants reported a strong need for further education in the area of nutrition for NCD prevention. The perceived need for further training was highest among nursing aides, and it was lowest among nutritionists. Most of the health personnel reported that patients often asked them about dietary issues, most frequently how to lose weight and how to follow a healthy diet. The sources of continuing education that the health workers had used most frequently were professional journals, information from the Ministry of Health, and courses. In comparison to the university-trained health professionals, the non-university-trained nursing aides differed significantly in their perceived need for more training, as well as the sources that they had used for continuing education (P < 0.05 for both). The evaluation in 2003 to assess the reactions to the new information material found a generally favorable response to the package. CONCLUSIONS: The Chilean PHC personnel perceived a strong need for training in nutrition as related to NCD prevention. In response, various activities are now being carried out, with goals that include enhancing the knowledge of PHC workers about possibilities for NCD prevention, encouraging a team approach to prevention, and offering more community-oriented services.

La promoción promoción del consumo de frutas y verduras en América Latina: buena oportunidad de acción intersectorial por una alimentación saludable / The promotion of fruits and vegetables consumption in Latin America: good oportunity for an intersectorial action for a healthy eating

La importancia de un alto consumo de frutas y verduras para la salud, en la prevención de algunas deficiencias de micro nutrientes y en especial de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, ha sido documento extensamente en años recientes. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la Organización para los Alimentos y Agricultura (FAO) aunaron esfuerzos en el año 2003 para lanzar la ®Iniciativa para la Promoción de Frutas y Verduras¼, la cual esta siendo implementada a través de talleres regionales. En Latino América, el consumo de frutas y verduras está por debajo de lo recomendado (400 g/persona/día) y es por eso que muchas guías alimentarías de países destacan la necesidad de incrementar su consumo. Además, varios programas de promoción de frutas y verduras ya están en pleno desarrollo y han incorporando a sectores como producción, comercio y mercadeo, lo cual ayudará a hacer una realidad el mensaje ®coma saludable¼. Este es un paso bienvenido ahora que vivimos rodeados y seducidos por un cada vez mejor surtido mercado de alimentos de alto contenido en calorías, grasa, azúcar y sal.

Training Chilean primary health care professionals in nutrition for noncommunicable disease prevention

OBJECTIVES: To assess three related issues: (1) the need for training in nutrition and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as perceived by primary health care (PHC) personnel in Chile, (2) those health workers' preferred sources of training to learn about that subject, and (3) reactions to some materials that were later developed to help meet the needs that were identified. METHODS: In the summer of 2001 a questionnaire survey was used with PHC staff members in 3 of Chile's 13 regions in order to evaluate their perceived need for training in nutrition and NCD prevention as well as their preferred sources of continuing education. As a follow-up to the 2001 survey, in 2002, information material was prepared on using diet and physical activity to prevent NCDs. The information package was introduced through a series of workshops in all the regions of Chile. An evaluation in 2003 assessed the reactions to the new material. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-one valid questionnaires from the 2001 survey were analyzed. The participants reported a strong need for further education in the area of nutrition for NCD prevention. The perceived need for further training was highest among nursing aides, and it was lowest among nutritionists. Most of the health personnel reported that patients often asked them about dietary issues, most frequently how to lose weight and how to follow a healthy diet. The sources of continuing education that the health workers had used most frequently were professional journals, information from the Ministry of Health, and courses. In comparison to the university-trained health professionals, the non-university-trained nursing aides differed significantly in their perceived need for more training, as well as the sources that they had used for continuing education (P <0.05 for both). The evaluation in 2003 to assess the reactions to the new information material found a generally favorable response to the package. CONCLUSIONS: The Chilean PHC personnel perceived a strong need for training in nutrition as related to NCD prevention. In response, various activities are now being carried out, with goals that include enhancing the knowledge of PHC workers about possibilities for NCD prevention, encouraging a team approach to prevention, and offering more community-oriented services.

Voluntary lifestyle changes and knowledge about healthy lifestyles of chilean primary health care workers

Se evaluaron los cambios en los estilos de vida y conocimientos en alimentación saludable y actividad física en profesionales de atención primaria de salud. Se aplicó una encuesta a 194 profesionales (médicos, enfermeras, nutricionistas, matronas y asistentes sociales), de los cuales el 86 por ciento eran mujeres. Se observó que durante el último año, la mayoría de los profesionales modificó sus hábitos hacia estilos de vida mas saludables. Alrededor del 80 por ciento señalaron que consumen menos grasas y consumen mas verduras, dos tercios indicaron consumir menos azúcar, alrededor de la mitad menos alcohol y un 45 por ciento hacen más actividad física. La gente mas joven es la que ha hecho las mayores modificaciones, a pesar que aumentaron el consumo de bebidas gaseosas, alcohol y tabaco. Un 80 por ciento de los profesionales respondió correctamente las preguntas relacionadas con alimentación y actividad física. Se encontró diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los diferentes grupos de profesionales. Se concluye que muchos profesionales han efectuado cambios hacia estilos de vida mas saludable, tienen un buen conocimiento de hábitos alimentarios y actividad física. Estos resultados indican la importancia del trabajo en equipo para contribuir a la prevención de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles