Effects of a Salutogenic Healthy Eating Program in Type 2 Diabetes (the SALUD Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Avoidance of Inhaled Pollutants and Irritants in Asthma from a Salutogenic Perspective

Much is known about the role of aeroallergens in asthma, but little is described about the damage caused by inhaled pollutants and irritants to the respiratory epithelium. In this context, the most frequent pollutants and irritants inhaled in the home environment were identified, describing the possible repercussions that may occur in the respiratory tract of the pediatric population with asthma and highlighting the role of the caregiver in environmental control through a salutogenic perspective. Searches were carried out in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs and Scopus databases for articles considered relevant for the theoretical foundation of this integrative review, in which interactions between exposure to pollutants and inhaled irritants and lung involvement. Articles published in the last 10 years that used the following descriptors were considered: air pollution; tobacco; particulate matter; disinfectants; hydrocarbons, fluorinated; odorants; chloramines; pesticide; asthma; and beyond Antonovsky's sense of coherence. Exposure to smoke and some substances found in cleaning products, such as benzalkonium chloride, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and monoethanolamine, offer potential risks for sensitization and exacerbation of asthma. The vast majority of the seven main inhaled products investigated provoke irritative inflammatory reactions and oxidative imbalance in the respiratory epithelium. In turn, the caregiver's role is essential in health promotion and the clinical control of paediatric asthma. From a salutogenic point of view, pollutants and irritants inhaled at home should be carefully investigated in the clinical history so that strategies to remove or reduce exposures can be used by caregivers of children and adolescents with asthma.

Qualitative evaluation of a Salutogenic Healthy Eating Programme for Dutch people with type 2 diabetes

The salutogenic model of health (SMH) is a health-promoting theory that focuses on resources, strengths, and coping capacities in everyday life as a way to improve health and wellbeing. The SMH was applied to develop a programme for enabling healthy eating practices among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM): the SALUD programme. This study aims to gain insight in how participants with T2DM experienced the content and meaning of the SALUD programme. Three focus groups with participants (six to eight participants/group) that finished the SALUD programme were conducted. The focus groups were video-recorded, transcribed ad verbatim and thematically analysed. The SALUD programme was perceived by the participants as a positive, meaningful learning experience. Key factors why the participants described the programme as positive were that they felt a sense of social-belonging and (emotionally) safe (theme 1). The SALUD programme's positive encouraging approach presented by the coach invited participants to join an active learning process (theme 2). Performing trial-and-error experiments and weekly reflecting on goals is what characterized active learning. The meaningfulness of the learning process (theme 3) was derived from (i) positive self-confrontation; (ii) exploring mind-body connections and perceiving improved health and (iii) noticing positive changes in their social environment (theme 3). To conclude, the study uncovered that the SALUD programme incited a positive, meaningful learning process for healthy eating and the contextual factors important in this. Potential leads to further improve the SALUD programme are discussed in order to maximize the chance of inciting an inclusive, active learning process.