The International Institute for Health Promotion



Conferences, Training, and Seminars Health Promotion: Global Perspectives" Country Profiles IIHP Committees IIHP Archives		Meeting IIHP Inaugural Meeting - June 3-5, 1996 in Washington, DC Proceedings of the IIHP Inaugural Meeting - June 3-5, 1996 in Washington, DC at American University Meeting information Who - Members and affiliates of the International Institute Network. Delegates - some of the delegates at the innaugural meeting of IIHP. What - A global summit for leaders from universities, institutes, and organizations in the field of health promotion (IIHP definition of health promotion). A preliminary schedule of events has been set. Where - American University in Washington D.C., USA When - June 2-5, 1996 Registration - Please send the provided registration form by April 30, 1996. Additional information is available. Contact - For questions or comments send e-mail to Wolf Kirsten. New Technologies - some of our work with new technologies for IIHP. Welcome letter - President Clinton wrote a letter to the IIHP delegates welcoming them to the innaugural meeting of the IIHP This document is a summary of the health promotion issues discussed in the breakout groups throughout the IIHP Inaugural Meeting. The discussions are presented in bullet form. Breakout group on "Mission Statement" Breakout group on Terminology Breakout group on health issues to be addressed by IIHP Breakout group on Curriculum Breakout group on Health Risk Appraisals/Evaluation Breakout group on Training Seminars Breakout group on Trends Around Health Promotion Wrap-up Session Schedule of events Press article Breakout group on "Mission Statement" 1. Why should IIHP exist? lack of effective international collaboration in health promotion need for new visions/ideas/directions addressing global health problems need for on-going networking, communication, cooperation, and informational exchange using new technologies organize common data collection analyze role of theories - create new models facilitate exchange of professionals increase cohesion on an international level - decrease fragmentation 2. What is the purpose of IIHP? Macro: personal exchange -first hand experience - learning exchange cooperation and networking - communication link through emerging technologies promotion/marketing of concept of quality of life new educational programs (clients/professionals) training of the health profession research and development - collective body for standards/methods evaluation methods central databank with global health risk data Micro: get government involvement provide support from pool of resources provide informational forum and disseminate information to other agencies establish rules / standards meet carefully defined needs and develop realistic services to cooperating members of the institutes set-up platform to conduct and initiate funding for research coordinate meetings, seminars and activities establish partnerships with other groups that address similar issues (local - international) establish national subdivisions of the IIHP to work on specific areas be sensitive to other cultural considerations develop and evaluate an instructional program develop international standards for testing, evaluation and technology monitor health trends/risk factors worldwide 3. Who will the IIHP serve? IIHP cooperating institutions professionals in field institutions: health, schools, military worksites communities - special at risk populations governments - public health policy global community 4. How will the IIHP do this work? facilitate common understanding and deepen relationships set up committees to focus on issues (e.g. curriculum) - grouping delegates/institutions according to areas of interest hold annual meetings in different regions/countries communicate regularly through existing and emerging technologies (internet) develop a strategic plan to carry out purpose (needs assessment, tailored planning) cooperate with existing organizations and government facilitate personnel exchange establish a system for exchanging information set standards for evaluation of health promotion programs pool research/data bases for analysis/meta-analysis identify missing data/lack of studies in existing health promotion research body produce publications / booklets / newsletters develop marketing strategies to promote field Breakout Group on Terminology Health: Listed terms: health promotion, disease prevention, wellness, quality of life, happiness, social prosperity psychological, physical and social well-being as seen by the individual ability to fullfill your needs/locus of control within the individual's limits continuum : optimal health_____________absence of disease_____________disease Health Promotion: doing everything possible to promote physical, psychological & social health habits way of guiding and motivating individual to reach a healthy state way of changing systems that can facilitate individual change (social, environmental, political, economical systems) Health Education: skills teaching and life skills training to achieve healthy lifestyle Wellness: positive state of mind environmental effects on health more subjective than common health parameters (in the mind of the individual) hard to measure Disease Prevention: Risk factors: detection and control stages of disease prevention programs - vaccination disease containment therapy - healing ---> sometimes overlapping with health promotion: eg: smoking cessation Breakout Group on health issues to be addressed by IIHP lack of physical activity drug & alcohol abuse population aging HIV virus & sexually transmission diseases violence accidents mental health hygiene nutrition environment family planning education lowering hypertension risk factor management smoking Related factors: economic issues (poverty), lack of leisure time/lack of rest, lack of health-related education, decrease of community / family influence, motivation, lack of spirituality, technology needs and expertise Involvement of IIHP to address health issues Focus development of comprehensive health promotion programs promotion of nutritional and physical activity providing information for policy making promotion of sex education implementation of health promotion program (training program) involvement on all levels: academic/practice/policy Organizational Collaboration with: IIHP cooperating institutions government & other authorities academic institutions/health promotion practioners/policy organizations environmental organizations WHO, CDC, UNESCO, ILO Red cross, Boy/Girl Scouts International Sokol Organization Asian Development Bank / American Development Bank World Bank insurance companies hospitals churches/religious organizations foundations European Union Process: involvement of media World Health Day advance health promotion in health care systems Breakout Group on Curriculum Goal: Create curriculum to educate people to become specialists in health promotion Common elements almong curricula: Topics: anatomy courses exercise physiology epidemiology biology (exercise) psychology/counseling sociology behavioral theories / behavior modification models medicine strategic planning health communication management principles statistics economics nutrition cost benefit analysis (evaluation) marketing (communication) legal aspects, cutural values 4 year program: 2 yrs on basics 2 yrs on specific fields Special orientations: in depth training in specific fields case study, field work as a requirement (internship) address curriculum to the whole university - have a mandatory health/fitness requirement Conclusion: IIHP can recommend core courses and allow different countries to have different courses based on their needs Breakout Group on Health Risk Appraisals/ Evaluation Questions to be answered: are we reducing health risks? what impact do particular interventions have on the communities? cost effectiveness of interventions? Analyze the effect of interventions group of interventions cost benefit/effectiveness of programs international comparison of health risk profiles standardization of methodologies (e.g. unit of analysis) Identify research needs in countries through evaluation of programs for selected groups for whole population Recognized need for a common instrument to utilize throughout all countries e.g. CDC (Atlanta): HRA predictors of morbidity Breakout group on Training Seminars Suggestions of what training could be: provide information on what is health promotion more specific training in various topical areas set guidelines to be more "ethical" in teaching focus on practical ways of learning comparison of different methods/programs in health promotion from different countries - combine ideas shared by countries represented in IIHP to help each other each seminar should focus on topical area (e.g., worksite programs) dissemination of information with practical application incorporate time for reflection in seminar --> make it a two-way process, not only feeding information start with seminar which focuses on how to achieve balance in lives then build on to this idea with individual components of this balance Who could be recipients of training? internal IIHP partners outside entities Select topical areas and determine the basic components which need to be taught, eg. physical fitness testing IIHP should focus on training guidelines to be used by cooperating institutions (how to train) IIHP should focus on sharing of information and ideas for now and address training issues at a later point Breakout Group on Trends Around Health Promotion Health issues inactivity influence of family connect with programs family focus obesity - eating drug/alcohol problems (youth) rise in heart disease in certain populations stress age violence (rise in personal security) Developments In Health Promotion Worldwide programs/campaigns to address problems with malnutrition lack of communication (in health promotion as an entity) commercialization of health promotion (business vs. state) ---> is this approach reducing humanism? return to exercise /natural surroundings (not just facility) "Do what you can" - approach (e.g., exercise) tendency toward lack of personal time (idle time) no time for personal relaxation - regeneration lack of personal determination of wants and needs/freedom of choices don't behave to do something for ourselves "society" or outside forces are determining "locus of control" each country is a "developing" nation in terms of HP lack of wellness programs in certain/many countries issue of overwork (of population) in many countries Goals/Needs research on specific populations to appropriately focus health promotion efforts issue of systemic change (whole system): cultural political laws socio- economic conditions need to focus on basic learnings/teachings - (upbringing of children) 2 levels: civilization internal person nature how does this determine personal action? problems are specific to populations: need for programs/approaches that address specific needs need programs that help w/maintaining health over time need to focus on learning in order for people to maintain healthy behaviors over long-term programs need to focus on behavioral approach - personal needs/motives what Trends - In Specific Countries? Singapore: aging population: 1990 Census - by 2030: large% = over 60 big concern (similar to US) 1 in 5 child over weight food labels not on all foods media not informed people hard to motivate attitude: "doctors will fix if sick" special Health Promotion Unit since 1992 new media promotion (formerly no patient education, smoking campaigns) shift towards managed care goal of productive work force/healthy aging China new nationwide focus: "Health Promotion for All People" (since June 1995) program to deal with mortality increases in certain populations research projects on physical activity and health Czech Republic transfer of health care to 80% private lost preventive care in schools (no school-pediatrics) preventive medicine must be paid for by individual 40% of child at ill-health limited access to gyms / playgrounds few health promotion organizations exist (handicap / seniors) few health clubs at high cost need of health test: 7 simple components to know fitness of people around the world and serve as a guide for future programs Japan 2 major problems: high cost of health care aging - by 2020 number of elderly will double - large increase in life expectency (women 83yrs) Inactivity also an issue Government active in health promotion: minister of labor provides funding for health promotion participants minister of trade and industry is promoting health initiatives minister of welfare is trying to reduce healthcare costs programs on nutrition, blood pressure control, cholesterol, physical exercise stress management program in future 15/20 years ago: health protection bureau government supports new programs: customized for 13 weeks - then continue with private funds support for research from federal and local government however - most promotion programs are provided by private companies Health Science Center: over last 5 years - emphasis on individual responsibility with regard to healthy lifestyles Germany all basic medical care provided by social system increase in health care costs cuts on prevention programs health promotion is a new topic (roughly last 10 years) skepticism about health promotion reducing costs concept is becoming more important: wide range of activities (alcohol, smoking, children) very affordable to individual government provides HIV/AIDS prevention programs north/south regional difference in health/smoking/drinking alcohol consumption higher than in many countries but not as concerned increase in school programs for children/adolescents: sex education (pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases) stress management drug prevention implementation into school system worksite: special needs - employees pay emphasis is on prevention not treatment need for nursing in homes law: private insurance have to provide health promotion programs Norway "Back to Nature" approach: school age students must be outside # times/week Switzerland few health problems interaction between health care providers and institutions are problem everyone is required to have health insurance - but it is expensive health clubs provide programs for health care providers Portugal large gap between needs of population and what is provided by health promoters socio-economic gap between people government supports programs associated with government institutions some school programs: smoking/drug prevention, exercise, nutrition only provide information, but no practice (--> lack of commitment) Wrap-up Session IIHP Future Activities 1. List of databases 2. Formalization of contact 3. Direct contacts 4. Spread the word 5. Develop sub-communication groups 6. Terminology 7. Short, medium, long range, planning 8. Evaluation 9. Identity - process for meeting research needs 10. Final draft of mission statement and objectives Schedule of Events This outline is a draft of our tentative plans for the summit. More information regarding the final schedule will be provided as we receive confirmations from the delegates attending. Sunday - June 2, 1996 Morning / afternoon - check-in hotel 4:00 pm - registration at American University 5:00 pm - departure for reception 6:00 pm - informal welcome reception Monday - June 3 1. Session: Opening Ceremony Opening / keynote address Introduction of attendees 2. Session: IIHP vision and structure mission statement common objectives Lunch 3. Session: Terminology 4. Session: Procedural issues 5. Session: Breakout sessions / workgroups (e.g., curriculum issues) Evening social function Tuesday - June 4 1. Session: Critical elements of health promotion programs 2. Session: Presentation of successful health promotion programs Lunch 3. Session: Research objectives protocols standardization database management 4. Session: Breakout sessions / workgroups Free evening for participants to discover Washington D.C. Wednesday - June 5 1. Session: New technologies communications publications 2. Session: Multimedia presentation Lunch 3. Session: Short term / long term strategic planning 4. Session: Selection of governing board 5. Session: Developmental activities funding issues foundation support 6. Session: Wrap-up specific planning scheduling / calendar Media Coverage Club Business International September, 1996 page 20 International Pursuit of Health In June, health professionals from throughout the world assembled at American University (AU), in Washington, D.C., to inaugurate the International Institute for Health Promotion (IIHP). The organization, which was created to facilitate the international exchange of health-promotion program ideas, as well as health and fitness research, is headquartered at AU's National Center for Health Fitness (NCHF). "There's a very clear and universal desire within the international community of health-promotion professionals to work cooperatively in order to advance the quality of health and life for all people of the world," notes Dr. Robert Karch, founder and executive director of the NCHF The IIHP will offer educational programs, national and regional conferences and training institutes, and collaborative ventures with universities, private corporations, and government agencies. The institute, for example, is already assisting representatives from Brazil, China, and Slovakia in the implementation of pilot health-promotion programs. For additional information, contact Wolf Kirsten at 202-885-6218; the IIHP can also be accessed on the World Wide Web at http:/ /www.healthy.american.edu/iihp.html