Framing a Transdisciplinary Research Agenda in Health Education to Address Health Disparities and Social Inequities: A Road Map for SOPHE Action

Culturally Adaptive Walking Intervention for Korean-Chinese Female Migrant Workers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although the literature has commonly cited that development of culturally adaptive interventions is key to improving the health outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse populations, there have been limited culturally adaptive walking interventions specific to Korean-Chinese (KC) migrants. The objective of this study is to describe the process in development of culturally adaptive walking interventions for KC female migrant workers, using the intervention mapping (IM) method.

METHODS

The culturally adaptive walking intervention was developed using the IM method, which is a stepwise theory and evidence-based approach for planning interventions. The IM method process has six steps, including needs assessment, formulation of change objectives, selection of theory-based methods and practical strategies, development of an intervention program, development of an adoption and implementation plan, and development of an evaluation design.

RESULTS

The determinants of walking behavior, including knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and acculturation, were identified through an extensive literature review, community leader interviews, and a survey of female KC migrant workers. Appropriate intervention methods and strategies were identified based on relevant theories. Acculturation was a determinant of exercise behavior, and various methods to improve cultural adaptation were identified in the context of the lifestyles and working environments of the target population.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The IM method provided a foundation for creating a health intervention for KC female migrant workers. This method could easily be useful for health care providers working with other groups.

Documenting 15 Years (2000-2015) of SOPHE Achievements

For over six decades, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has been a leading professional organization for the field of health education (HE). This historical research extends the work of Cissell and Bloom by investigating the recent history of SOPHE. The aims of this historical study were to (1) identify key SOPHE and HE events from 2000 to 2015, (2) describe key contributions of SOPHE to the HE field during this time period, and (3) identify potential future directions for SOPHE. Johnson and Christensen's five steps for historical research were followed to conduct an eDelphi study and one-on-one interviews. During the three-round eDelphi study, SOPHE officers ( n = 16) and senior staff ( n = 5), who served between 2000 and 2015, identified significant SOPHE's leaders and rated the importance of SOPHE's recent events. Key leaders ( n = 25) participated in semistructured interviews to describe their involvement in SOPHE, specific SOPHE activities, and future directions for SOPHE. Brief, structured intercept interviews were also conducted with student ( n = 10) and professional SOPHE members ( n = 11). Data collected during the eDelphi study were analyzed to determine central tendency statistics and percent agreement on each event evaluated in the second- and third-round surveys. Qualitative interview data were analyzed with NVivo using thematic analysis. Data from the eDelphi study revealed 29 SOPHE and 17 HE events that occurred between 2000 and 2015 as being "important" or "very important." Results from the thematic analysis revealed several themes in three areas: SOPHE accomplishments, benefits of SOPHE membership, and possible future directions for SOPHE to explore.

Building Health Promotion Capacity in Developing Countries: Strategies From 60 Years of Experience in the United States

The Galway Consensus Conference articulated key definitions, principles, values, and core domains of practice as the foundation for the diffusion of health promotion across the globe. The conference occurred in the context of an urgent need for large numbers of trained health workers in developing countries, which face multiple severe threats to the health of their people. In this article, the authors draw on the experience acquired by the health promotion profession in the United States to illustrate what might be done to build health promotion capacity in developing countries. They examine the profession's experience in the areas of accreditation and certification, research and publications, advocating for the profession, and advocating for public health policy. Finally, the authors direct a challenge to the profession in the United States to extend a hand to developing countries to assist them in expanding their capacity to prepare health promotion professionals and deliver health promotion services.

Collective knowledge sharing as a social justice strategy: the difference it made in a service project about preterm birth disparity

Knowledge about how health disparities are created and sustained from those affected is needed. Collective knowledge sharing is one way to redefine and revalue dialogue and critique processes with the aim of promoting just relationships of knowledge production. This article describes how a community service project focused on using collective knowledge sharing as a social justice strategy with health ministry volunteers produced insights about preterm birth disparity issues. Project insights related to (1) the connection between faith and health, (2) the significance of family and congregational stories, and (3) the importance of praising assets in the context of disparity recognition.

Transdisciplinary research and evaluation for community health initiatives

Transdisciplinary research and evaluation projects provide valuable opportunities to collaborate on interventions to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Given team members' diverse backgrounds and roles or responsibilities in such projects, members' perspectives are significant in strengthening a project's infrastructure and improving its organizational functioning. This article presents an evaluation mechanism that allows team members to express the successes and challenges incurred throughout their involvement in a multisite transdisciplinary research project. Furthermore, their feedback is used to promote future sustainability and growth. Guided by a framework known as organizational development, the evaluative process was conducted by a neutral entity, the Quality Assurance Team. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to garner feedback and clarify how the research project goals could be achieved more effectively and efficiently. The multiple benefits gained by those involved in this evaluation and implications for utilizing transdisciplinary research and evaluation teams for health initiatives are detailed.

Accessibility: global gateway to health literacy

Health literacy, cited as essential to achieving Healthy People 2010's goals to "increase quality and years of healthy life" and to "eliminate health disparities," is defined by Healthy People as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." Accessibility, by definition, the aforementioned "capacity to obtain," thus is health literacy's primary prerequisite. Accessibility's designation as the global gateway to health literacy is predicated also on life's realities: global aging and climate change, war and terrorism, and life-extending medical and technological advances. People with diverse access needs are health professionals' raison d'être. However, accessibility, consummately cross-cultural and universal, is virtually absent as a topic of health promotion and practice research and scholarly discussion of health literacy and equity. A call to action to place accessibility in its rightful premier position on the profession's agenda is issued.