Leonard Jack

Appraising Qualitative Research in Health Education: Guidelines for Public Health Educators

Research studies, including qualitative studies, form the basis for evidence-based practice among health professionals. However, many practicing health educators do not feel fully confident in their ability to critically appraise qualitative research studies. This publication presents an overview of qualitative research approaches, defines key terminology used in qualitative research, and provides guidelines for appraising the strengths and weaknesses of published qualitative research. On reading, health educators will be better equipped to evaluate the quality of the evidence through critical appraisals of qualitative research publications.

The HEAL, Phase II Project: Enhancing Features of an Electronic Medical Record System to Improve Adherence to Asthma Guidelines

This article describes the implementation of an enhanced electronic medical record (EMR) system in three community health care centers in the Greater New Orleans area of Louisiana. This report may aid efforts directed at the implementation of enriched tools, such as decision support, in an EMR with the goal of improving pediatric asthma outcomes.

Asthma Risk Profiles of Children Participating in an Asthma Education and Management Program

Background Focused risk assessment is essential in the effective management of asthma. Purpose This study identified and examined correlations among areas of pediatric asthma risk and determined associations between these risks and demographic characteristics. Methods This exploratory study identified risk factors that affect asthma management among pediatric asthmatics using the Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool. Results were analyzed using descriptive frequencies and tests of correlation and association. Results Risk assessments were completed for 155 children. The most prominent areas of risk were responsibility in medication administration (46%), caregiver well-being (35%), child well-being (33%), and medication adherence (28%). Correlations and associations were found among areas of risk and demographic characteristics. Discussion As a result of the assessment, participants were able to receive tailored asthma education sessions to address asthma risks and promote effective asthma self-management. Translation to Health Education Practice Conducting standardized asthma risk assessment offers health educators and healthcare providers valuable information to understand the relationships between various areas of risk and tailor asthma education and management activities in efforts to eliminate those risks and improve asthma health outcomes.

Successes and Opportunities to Adopting Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Asthma Care in New Orleans

Pediatric asthma is a multifactorial disease, requiring complex, interrelated interventions that target children, families, schools, health care providers, and communities. This article describes components of the Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL), phase II project, a collaboration between community and medical facilities for children with asthma in New Orleans. HEAL phase II extends and builds on the lessons learned from HEAL I, a post-Katrina research project, an observational study directed by Tulane University Health Sciences Center and the New Orleans Department of Health. HEAL phase II offers an opportunity to understand, from a health system’s perspective, how factors associated with the health care setting, patient-family, health care provider, asthma education, and community work together to create optimal conditions that support pediatric asthma care in New Orleans. In this context, this article will discuss factors contributing to health disparities in asthma; the need for a mul...

Health Information Technology Use in a Rural Clinic: The Pharmacist's Perspective

Poor communication of medical information during care transitions can lead to medication errors, adverse drug events, and increased health care costs. The crucial pharmacist’s role sometimes requires efforts to improve documentation. Here, we describe our experience integrating a pharmacist into a medical team at a federally qualified health center.

Health Promotion Practice expands focus on global health promotion.

289 Global health promotion is considered an essential approach to address pandemic diseases and their underlying or exacerbating conditions, as well as to promote optimal health. The importance of global health promotion has received considerable discussion over the past several years (Pan American Health Organization, 2011; Szlezák et al., 2010; World Health Organization, 1986) for several reasons. First, there continues to be an overwhelming burden of infectious diseases; particularly in developing countries (Morse, 2007). Second, in the past half century, there have been dramatic increases in life expectancy in many countries (Garrett, 2003; Robinson, Novelli, Pearson, & Norris, 2007). As a result of gains in life expectancy, more people globally are living longer and experiencing chronic diseases (Waxman, 2003). The combination of growing populations of individuals living longer and an increase in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors has resulted in an international increase in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer (Bleich, Jarlenski, Bell, & LaVeist, 2011; Fuster, Voute, Hunn, & Smith, 2007). There is now global recognition that health is shaped by many factors ranging from individual behavior to the environment. According to Alves and Rosa (2007), “Human health cannot be considered in isolation, for it depends highly on the quality of the environment in which people live: for people to be healthy, they need healthy environments” (para. 6). Hence, achieving optimal health around the globe requires a progressive management of social resources, economic relations, and natural resources. It is not difficult to understand that many of today’s public health issues have their roots in the same socioeconomic inequalities and unwise consumption patterns that will very likely jeopardize future sustainability of good health (Alves & Rosa, 2007). Although there is no standard definition for global health, Koplan et al. (2009) suggest that global health includes the objective of “health equity among nations and for all people” through prevention and care in an interdisciplinary way and includes attention at relevant transboundary issues through “global cooperation” (p. 1994). This definition makes it clear that the true essence of global health is not only to increase years of life but also to improve quality of life among all people regardless of their global geographic location. On the surface, life expectancy and life free of disabilities have increased for many because of new discoveries in genomics, molecular biology, nanotechnology, bioengineering and imaging that help to accelerate the pace of future discoveries (Labonté & Schrecker, 2007; Solar & Irwin, 2006). New medical discoveries will advance the global community’s ability to diagnosis, treat, and prevent infectious and chronic diseases (Labonté & Schrecker, 2007; Solar & Irwin, 2006). However, despite unprecedented global wealth, new medical discoveries, and technological progress, health equity gaps are increasing among developing and developed countries (Irwin et al., 2006). Some developing countries such as Brazil, China, and India have death rates from chronic diseases that exceed the combined death rates from infectious diseases, maternal and prenatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies (Irwin et al., 2006; World Health Organization, 2005). The dual burdens of infectious 443244 HPPXXX10.1177/1524839912443244Jack et al. / HPP and Global Health PromotionHealth Promotion Practice / May 2012 2012

Improving Asthma-Related Outcomes Among Children Participating in the Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL), Phase II Study

Purpose. Pediatric asthma disproportionately affects low-income and minority children. The HEAL (Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana), Phase II Project was a collaborative effort with a primary focus to improve pediatric asthma management in New Orleans, Louisiana. The purpose of this article is to report clinical outcomes captured at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Method. HEAL (Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana), Phase II was a pre–post intervention study that enrolled children ages 2 to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of asthma to receive asthma education within the clinic setting. Enrollees received an asthma education intervention, an environmental evaluation, and a 12-month follow-up session. Endpoints included symptom days, level of asthma control, asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and missed school days. Results. The majority of participants were aged 5 years and older, male, Black, and persistent asthmatics. Emergency room visits decreased from 41% to 20% (p < .001). Improvements in coughing (83% to 62%, p < .001), wheezing (50% to 26%, p < .001), and chest tightness (29% to 18%, p < .001) were also seen. Conclusion. The novel intervention was associated with improved asthma outcomes among pediatric patients receiving care at the clinical sites in the Greater New Orleans area.