Kurfessa Abdisa H.

HEALTH PROMOTION

A. Achieving Physical &Psychological Wellness

Promote Physical Activity in the Workplace:

What you should know?

ü The environments in most island communities no longer promote physical

activity.
ü Most schools and workplaces do little to encourage or value movement.
Inactive lifestyles often result in much poorer health due to NCDs.
ü Getting people moving at work will result in a healthier workforce. A
healthier workforce can be more productive, with fewer sick days and more
money or products generated.
ü Ensuring that people have access to daily exercise must be a priority.

Did you know?

Studies from a several Pacific Island countries and territories show that between
41% and 62% of adults lead completely inactive lifestyles. An inactive lifestyle is
closely linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Did you know?

Engaging in physical activity in groups is effective in increasing levels of physical

activity

Examples of Interventions in the Workplace

ü Offering healthy food options in cafeterias, vending machines and at

company-sponsored events;

ü Introducing signs encouraging stairway use;

ü Allowing flexible work schedules to accommodate physical activity during

the work day;

ü Providing reimbursement for use of community fitness centers; and

ü Building or opening up facilities and areas that can be used for physical
activity and exercise, such as on-site fitness centers, walking paths, and bike
trails.

Did you know?

Workplace physical activity programs have shown potential to increase employee

productivity and improve health outcomes
What are policies that can help improve the built environment?

A Successful Example:

Case Study: A workplace health promotion program in Vanuatu

Strong gender roles can result in disadvantages for women in relation to sport and
recreation activities. Wokabaot Jalens was a health intervention which was created
for women in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The program is part of the “Walk for Life” government based healthy workplace
initiative. Employees were encouraged to participate in physical activities every
Wednesday.

Promote Physical Activity in the work place An American Samoa Example

Target Population: All Department of Health employees

Summary: American Samoa Department of Health (DOH) Employee Wellness

Policy #13-01

§ October 2013: DOH implemented a policy for all DOH employees

relating to proper nutrition, physical activity and tobacco smoking
 § Worksite Wellness Infrastructures provided physical, financial and
material resources for employees to exercise

§ Employees are required to sign a “Wellness Activity Waiver Form”

prior to participating to any worksite wellness activity or event

§ Increased Levels of Physical Activity allows employees 45 minutes of

their work hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for exercise
while at work

Promote Physical Activity in the work place A Palauan Example

Target Population: All employees

Summary: Worksite Wellness Program, Palau’s Executive Order 295

§ May 2011, Palau President Johnson Toribiong declared a state of

health emergency on Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) and
ordered the Palau Ministry of Health (MOH) to immediately establish
programs “to stop, reduce and eliminate the incidences of Non
Communicable Diseases”

§ Palau NCD Unit initiated worksite wellness programs to the entire

community

§ The NCD Unit started advertising the worksite wellness programs in

health fairs and MOH also started partnerships with aerobics
instructors

§ There are about 12 public and private worksites in Palau that

approached and requested the NCD Unit for assistance in starting their
own worksite wellness program for their employees

§ Since the inception of the programs, formal evaluation has yet to take
place to measure the efficacy and currently, the NCD Unit is working
towards improving the worksite wellness programs by creating a more
structured follow-up and tracking plan by having a case manager

B. Lifestyle Modification to Prevent Diseases

What is meant by Lifestyle?

Lifestyle includes the behavior and activities that make up your daily life.

This depends on:

What is meant by Lifestyle Modification?

Lifestyle modification involves altering long-term habits, typically of eating or

physical activity, and maintaining the new behavior for months or years.

Health problem associated with lifestyle modification

With increasing prevalence of life-style diseases a study conducted in India, one
out of four Indians is at risk of dying from non-communicable diseases like
diabetes, cardiovascular ailments or cancer before the age of 70, cable, &
according to estimates of various global and domestic organizations.

Health problem related to diet Effects

Reasons lack of energy

Increase in sugar intake poor concentration

Consumption of sodas Hearth disease

Increase in calorie intake High cholesterol

Intake of processed foods Obesity

Decrease in egg consumption

Usage of processed fats and

Oils

Health problem related to smoking

> Smoking as a strong addiction

> Increase of smoking among youth

> Availability of smoking implements such as cigars, hookah, etc.

Short term effects

Heart rate

Blood pressure

Injury to heart and blood

Halitosis (Bad breath)

Vessels

Long term effects

Lung cancer

Low sperm count (in males)

Loss of appetite

Yellowing of teeth
Halitosis (Bad breath)

Health Problems related to Lack of Physical Inactivity

> Sedentary activities like sitting, reading, watching television,

playing video games etc.

> Increased use of automobiles and other technologies.

> Effects: lethargy, obesity, pain in bones and muscles

C. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Health Promotion

Several physical activity promotion campaigns addressing the whole population

have proved unsuccessful since they often fail to reach out to these socially
disadvantaged subgroups. Promoting healthy eating and exercise with
consideration to the social dimension provides a better opportunity to initiate
healthy lifestyle . Therefore, an alternative approach in public health efforts aiming
at health promotion may be necessary to understand the impact of individual action
together with the context, while designing preventive measures against risky health
behaviors in socially disadvantaged populations . Taking into consideration
specific social requirements and increasing community engagement to improve
health, is an alternative paradigm for health.

Measures for Evaluating Health Promotion

When identifying evaluation measures for health promotion and disease prevention
programs, it is important to consider the program's focus, the needs of the audience
or funders, and the time frame and training available for meeting program goals.
Population health measures may also be used in evaluation. Common measures
used in health promotion and disease prevention programs include:

Participant data

Demographic data: such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment

income, and primary language spoken.

Biological markers: such as height, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood
pressure, cholesterol, skin circumference, and A1Cs.

Health status: such as disease, injury, stress, disability, risk factors, and perceived
health status.

Medical history: such as medication use, doctor's visits, and hospitalizations.

Knowledge: such as health concerns, perceived risk, and feedback on program

implementation.

Program process measures

Number of participants who complete the program

Number of participants participating in screenings or risk assessment

Number of participants participating in health education or skill activities

development

Number of participants that receive and follow up with referrals

Number of patients enrolled in health promotion or disease prevention programs

Number and types of educational materials produced for the program

References

Gordon-Larsen, P., Nelson, M., Page, P., & Popkin, B. (2006). Inequality in the
built environment underlies key health disparities in physical activity and obesity.
Pediatrics 117(2), 471-424.

Frank, L., Engelke, P., & Schmid, T. (2003). Health and community design: The
impact of the built environment on physical activity. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Lee, V., Mikkelsen, L., Srikantharajah, J., & Cohen, L. (2008). Strategies for
enhancing the built environment to support healthy eating and active living
environments. Oakland, CA: Prevention Institute, Healthy Eating Active Living
Convergence Partnership and PolicyLink.