Citation

Larsen M, Pedersen HS, Davies JK, Gulis G. Scand. J. Public Health 2013; 41(8): 778-784.

Affiliation

1Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Associations of Public Health in the Nordic Countries Regions, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1403494813496602

PMID

23858027

Abstract

AIM: To develop a set of assessment criteria and assess public health interventions at municipal level in Denmark using the European Community Health Promotion Indicator Development (EUHPID) model to support more effective planning and funding allocation in public health. Methods: Based on knowledge synthesis, a set of assessment criteria were developed to classify interventions into the four types of public health provided by the EUHPID model: health promotion, health protection, disease prevention, and health care. Information was then collected on all current public health interventions in Varde Municipality within a 3-month period in spring 2009. Finally, the interventions were categorised using the developed assessment criteria. Results: The knowledge synthesis process resulted in the development of a set of assessment criteria and the 154 reported public health interventions were divided into relevant types using these criteria. 57% of the interventions were based on a salutogenic health promotion approach, 33% on a pathogenic disease prevention approach, 10% on the pathogenic health protection approach, and 0% on the pathogenic health care approach. Conclusions: The assessment criteria based on the EUHPID model can be useful and have wider global significance for planning public health interventions, allocating appropriate funding to support public health interventions, and thereby encouraging and supporting more effective intersectoral working practices.

Language: en