Nova Corcoran

Communicating health : strategies for health promotion

chapter 1. Theories and models -- chapter 2. Social and psychological factors -- chapter 3. Reaching unreachable groups and crossing cultural barriers -- chapter 4. Mass media -- chapter 5. Information technology -- chapter 6. Using settings -- chapter 7. Evidence-based practice -- chapter 8. Using evaluation -- chapter 9. Bridging theory and practice : ten different health promotion campaigns.

The readability and suitability of sexual health promotion leaflets

OBJECTIVE To investigate the readability and suitability of sexual health promotion leaflets. METHOD Application of SMOG, FRY and SAM tests to assess the readability and suitability of a selection of sexual health leaflets. RESULTS SMOG and FRY scores illustrate an average reading level of grade 9. SAM scores indicate that 59% of leaflets are superior in design and 41% are average in design. Leaflets generally perform well in the categories of content, literacy demand, typography and layout. They perform poorly in use of graphics, learning stimulation/motivation and cultural appropriateness. CONCLUSION Sexual health leaflets have a reading level that is too high. Leaflets perform well on the suitability scores indicating they are reasonably suitable. There are a number of areas where sexual health leaflets could improve their design. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Numerous practical techniques are suggested for improving the readability and suitability of sexual health leaflets.

Promoting health with lesbian and bisexual women: It's not just about behaviour change

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To highlight different ways that healthcare professionals can promote health and reduce health inequalities of lesbian and bisexual women using a health promotion framework that focusses on the wider healthcare context. BACKGROUND Lesbian and bisexual women experience numerous health disparities that place them at high risk of poor health outcomes. The Frieden health impact pyramid (American Journal for Public Health, 100, 2010 and 590) identifies five tiers of public health interventions. This pyramid could be used to promote health in lesbian and bisexual women in healthcare settings. DESIGN A discursive paper. METHODS Literature was searched from 2008-2015 using PubMed, ScienceDirect and published grey literature. Individual key words were used to locate articles that focused on lesbian and bisexual womens health inequalities and to identify the interventions to address these. RESULTS Examples are presented across the tiers of the health impact pyramid in the context of healthcare settings that healthcare practitioners could action to promote health in lesbian and bisexual women. CONCLUSIONS The use of the Frieden triangle offers an alternative way to promote health by conceptualising health promotion interventions that promote lesbian and bisexual women without just focusing on behaviour change. The importance of changing areas of practice in healthcare organisations to be more supportive of lesbian and bisexual women and their healthcare needs is highlighted. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study highlights the ways that healthcare professionals can promote health of lesbian and bisexual women within their healthcare practice to help reduce health disparities.

Life after Stroke: Coping mechanisms among African Caribbean Women

In the UK, stroke is the third most common cause of death for women and the incidence in African Caribbean women is higher than that in the general population. Stroke burden has major consequences for the physical, mental and social health of African Caribbean women. In order to adjust to life after stroke, individuals affected employ a range of strategies which may include personal, religious (church) or spiritual support (i.e. prayer), individual motivation or resignation to life with a disability. This study explored these areas through the coping mechanisms that African Caribbean women utilised post stroke in the context of stroke recovery and lifestyle modification efforts needed to promote healthy living post stroke. A qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis was adopted. Seven women were recruited into the study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were audio recorded and were transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a four-stage framework: familiarisation, sense making, developing themes, and data refinement and analysis. Three main themes on coping emerged: the need to follow medical rules to manage stroke, strength and determination, and the use of religion and faith to cope with life after stroke. These findings illustrate both a tension between religious beliefs and the medical approach to stroke and highlight the potential benefits that religion and the church can play in stroke recovery. Implications for practice include acknowledgement and inclusion of religion- and church-based health promotion in post-stroke recovery.

Editorial: Defining, profiling and locating older people: an inner city Afro-Caribbean experience

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Moorley, C.R. and Corcoran, N.T. (2014), Editorial: Defining, profiling and locating older people: an inner city A fro‐C aribbean experience. J Clin Nurs, 23: 2083-2085. which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/jocn.12487 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. The group labelled ‘older people’ has attracted various definitions, opinions and perspectives across the globe (Victor 2010). The main reason for this is the way different cultures view ageing and the ageing process. The predominant opinion is that being ‘old’ is a biological and social context; for example, a calendar age is used to mark ageing, linking ‘old’ to biological ageing. There are also commonly held markers of old age, for example retirement age, state pension age or becoming a grandparent.