Health Promotion International[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Correction to: Interactions between registered dietitians and the food industry in Canada: results from a cross-sectional survey.
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41725140 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Community perspectives on health needs and assets in underserved Dublin areas: a participatory qualitative study.
Phillip E, Griffin S, Keogh E … +6 more , Bachari A, Nyamakope T, McDonnell F, Kelly J, Smith C, Stanistreet D
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41711178 · Publisher ↗
Health inequalities, deeply connected to broader social determinants such as unemployment, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare and essential services, remain a global concern. These factors disproportion...
Health inequalities, deeply connected to broader social determinants such as unemployment, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare and essential services, remain a global concern. These factors disproportionately impact socioeconomically underserved communities, even in high-income countries. In Ireland, similar disparities are evident within urban areas. Although policy and practice increasingly promote community participation, there is limited evidence on how communities perceive and articulate their challenges and priorities. This study, conducted in collaboration with Healthy Communities Local Development Officers across three underserved Dublin communities, employed an interpretive qualitative approach grounded in a community-based participatory research framework. Data collection involved guided interactive walks with residents and workers, structured group activities to define and prioritize needs, and focus group discussions. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method was used, followed by relevant parties' engagement workshop to review findings and discuss next steps. Six interrelated themes were generated: challenging environmental conditions, substance use and drug-related harm, gaps in healthcare access, social isolation and inadequate amenities, diminished safety and support, and fragmented family structures. These were underpinned by recurring latent themes of community disempowerment, lack of involvement in decision-making, misaligned interventions, and mistrust in statutory bodies. The findings highlight the importance of amplifying community voices to better understand local needs and priorities. Addressing these issues requires integrated, multi-sectoral approaches that combine local government action on place-based determinants with systemic and national-level policy reforms. This study lays the foundation for more meaningful community engagement and co-creation of locally tailored, community-led solutions to tackle entrenched inequities.
Australian media professionals' views on reporting suicide and evidence-informed guidelines: a qualitative study.
Skehan J, Maple M, Paton E … +3 more , Peprah J, Pirkis J, Kelly B
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41711177 · Publisher ↗
Collaborating with media to promote safe reporting of suicide is recognized as a promising population-level prevention strategy. While Australian media professionals are broadly aware of, and supportive of, existing guid...
Collaborating with media to promote safe reporting of suicide is recognized as a promising population-level prevention strategy. While Australian media professionals are broadly aware of, and supportive of, existing guidelines for reporting suicide, variability in agreement with specific recommendations suggests a need to further explore underlying views and perceptions about reporting suicide and associated guidelines. This study analyzed responses from 83 media professionals responding to an open-ended question within a national cross-sectional survey. Using inductive thematic analysis, three key themes were collaboratively constructed: (i) reporting suicide can provide community benefits; (ii) tension exists between applying guidelines and concerns they may restrict media reporting; and (iii) there is an interaction between lived experience of suicide and media professionals' views about reporting. Findings highlight the complexity of balancing public health objectives with media practices and underscore the importance of nuanced engagement with media professionals to strengthen guideline implementation.
Evaluating the KickAsh!-intervention's effectiveness in preventing smoking among vulnerable Flemish adolescents: a non-randomized cluster-controlled trial.
Leta K, Lauwerier E, Willems S … +3 more , Demeester B, Van Oeckel V, Verloigne M
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41711176 · Publisher ↗
Adolescents experiencing societal vulnerability are at heightened risk of smoking uptake, exacerbating health disparities. To address this, the KickAsh!-intervention was co-created with adolescents and youth workers in F...
Adolescents experiencing societal vulnerability are at heightened risk of smoking uptake, exacerbating health disparities. To address this, the KickAsh!-intervention was co-created with adolescents and youth workers in Flanders, Belgium, using the intervention mapping protocol (IMP), aiming to prevent smoking uptake among 10- to 16-year-olds, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This study evaluates its effectiveness on adolescents' smoking initiation behaviour and related determinants: smoking intention, attitude, self-efficacy beliefs, coping planning, perceived subjective norms, perceived social pressure, risk perception, and perceived smoking behaviour of peers and youth workers. A non-randomized cluster-controlled trial was conducted across 23 youth social work organizations, with 12 implementing the intervention over four months. Co-creation organizations were pre-assigned to the intervention group. Data were collected via questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and seven-month follow-up (total N = 670; mean age = 12.85 years, SD = 2.40; 63.2% boys). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) in R were used to analyse intervention effects. A significant intervention effect was found for coping planning at post-test (B = 0.57, SE = 0.28, P = .04) and follow-up (B = 1.32, SE = 0.29, P < .001), with intervention participants showing an increase in preparing strategies to resist smoking. No significant effects were observed for smoking initiation behaviour or other determinants. This study found that combining co-creation with the IMP to develop a smoking prevention intervention yielded limited effects. High anti-smoking baseline levels and irregular adolescent attendance may have limited impact, highlighting challenges for implementing and evaluating interventions in youth social work settings.
Health literacy and digital health literacy profiles of final year Health and Physical Education pre-service teachers: a cross-sectional case study.
Peralta LR, Kealy-Ashby C, Pagano R … +1 more , Cruickshank V
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41707017 · Publisher ↗
Research shows that teacher and preservice teacher health literacy development should be a priority, with preliminary research reporting that higher levels of teacher's health literacy are associated with health evaluati...
Research shows that teacher and preservice teacher health literacy development should be a priority, with preliminary research reporting that higher levels of teacher's health literacy are associated with health evaluation and other critical health literacy capabilities. However, little is known about Australian preservice teachers' digital health literacy. The aims of this study are to build upon the previous smaller Australian studies with one university that have shown that Health and Physical Education (HPE) preservice teachers have suboptimal health literacy and to be the first study to examine the digital health literacy levels of final year HPE preservice teachers. This cross-sectional study case study recruited three Australian universities based on having a 4-year undergraduate Bachelor of Education (HPE) program. Sixty-five final year HPE preservice teachers consented and completed the HLQ and eHLQ. Across both questionnaires and the three cases (universities), only one significant difference was identified. The eHLQ analysis identified a significant difference for Domain 7 (Digital services that suit individual needs), with university 2 scoring higher than university 3 and a large pairwise effect (P = .04; d ≈ 1.0). Descriptively, there were a small number of differences as represented by medium effect sizes between the three cases. These findings show that HPE preservice teachers in Tasmania, when compared with HPE preservice teachers in NSW, do not feel as socially supported and understood by healthcare professionals, and despite digital health services not being tailored, feel safer and in control when accessing digital health services.
Tools for municipal health promotion planning-A Group Delphi study to facilitate decision-making.
Tollmann P, Baus M, Rangnow P … +3 more , Rossenbach T, Schönfeld I, Quilling E
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41701261 · Publisher ↗
Health promotion at the local level requires coordinated action for the development of strategies to promote health and well-being. For structuring and implementing such processes, planning tools can help local coordinat...
Health promotion at the local level requires coordinated action for the development of strategies to promote health and well-being. For structuring and implementing such processes, planning tools can help local coordinators. However, before starting the planning process, coordinators must navigate a broad range of available tools and identify those that best fit their local needs and conditions. Despite the availability of various planning tools for municipal health promotion, there is limited research on what kind of information can help health professionals choose the most suitable tool. To address this gap, the study investigates which specific attributes of planning tools are considered most relevant by municipal health promotion practitioners for informed decision-making. The study was conducted using the Group Delphi method, which involved experts in a participatory process to reach consensus on pre-defined statements. A total of 17 experts from intersectoral fields including municipalities, federal state and national institutions as well as academia took part. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Delphi results led to the identification of eleven categories. These findings provide a practical framework for describing planning tools in a way that meets the information needs of practitioners. By improving clarity and accessibility of tool descriptions, the results can support more targeted tool selection, enhance the efficiency of planning processes and ultimately contribute to a more effective municipal health promotion.
Marxist concepts of alienation in relation to health: a narrative review of the evidence.
Baum F, Litherland-De Lara J, Anaf J … +3 more , Freeman T, Musolino C, van den Berg M
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41701260 · Publisher ↗
Public health scholars are increasingly interested in the Marxist concept of alienation to explain the existence of health inequities. Marx's use of the term stresses the crucial role of political economic structural fac...
Public health scholars are increasingly interested in the Marxist concept of alienation to explain the existence of health inequities. Marx's use of the term stresses the crucial role of political economic structural factors in creating alienation. This article reports on a narrative review of literature that used Marx's theory of alienation and focuses on the mental and/or physical health effects of alienation. Our search resulted in 34 relevant articles. Collectively, they demonstrate the ongoing relevance of the concept of alienation to the creation of health inequities in contemporary society. Alienation results from the structure of class relations which are reflected in poor working conditions in which people do not receive the true worth of their labour and are alienated from themselves, others and nature. Alienation affects both workers and managers with effects resulting from their class positions. Consumption has also been identified as a cause of alienation particularly seen through the ceaseless advertising to persuade people to consume objects which do not yield satisfaction. Consumption creates alienation when bodies are commodified, and health services run for profit. We conclude that alienation is highly relevant to contemporary public health advocacy and practice by focusing attention on structural causes of health inequities.
Health literacy needs and community-based solutions for African Australians in NSW and Victoria at the point of care.
Mahimbo A, Ahmed SAE, Trabe-Templeton Z … +3 more , Uyirwoth S, Oyekan-John C, Camit M
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41700472 · Publisher ↗
Health literacy, the ability to access, understand, appraise, and use health information, is critical for active healthcare engagement, yet little is known about African Australians' needs at the point of care. We conduc...
Health literacy, the ability to access, understand, appraise, and use health information, is critical for active healthcare engagement, yet little is known about African Australians' needs at the point of care. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study involving six focus groups with 22 community members and nine community intermediaries in NSW and Victoria, to explore African Australians' health literacy needs, including the current organizational health literacy environment and strategies to improve their health literacy at the point of care. We identified five themes: health literacy is complex and context dependent, experiences determine and shape health literacy, social determinants impact access to and active engagement with healthcare services, experiences of feeling misunderstood and unsupported at the point of care, and a whole-of-systems approach is needed across individual, provider, system, and policy levels to enhance the health literacy of African Australians. Our findings highlight how social determinants, such as culture and identity, and organizational contexts intersect, underscoring the need for a systems-wide, intersectional approach to address health literacy gaps at the point of care.
The social divide in environmental action: demographic gaps in public response to microplastic pollution in Taiwan.
Chuang TH, Chang CH, Wang CJ … +6 more , Yang HW, Chen LY, Chen WL, Huang KY, Huang TF, Li MC
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41700471 · Publisher ↗
Public engagement is critical for mitigating environmental threats such as microplastic pollution, yet societal responses are often uneven and socially stratified. This study used a cross-sectional, population-based tele...
Public engagement is critical for mitigating environmental threats such as microplastic pollution, yet societal responses are often uneven and socially stratified. This study used a cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey to investigate the demographic determinants of public engagement with microplastic pollution in Taiwan, revealing a significant social divide in microplastic-related environmental knowledge, awareness of microplastic pollution and support for mitigation, and behaviors (KAB). Drawing on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,069 adults and using logistic regression, our findings map the key dimensions of this divide. Notably, a sharp knowledge-action gap emerged among younger adults (18-29), who exhibited lower odds of higher awareness of microplastic pollution and support for mitigation [odds ratio (OR) = 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17-0.51] and microplastic-reducing behaviors (OR = 0.37, 95% CI, 0.22-0.64). Socioeconomic status was a powerful predictor; higher education was linked to greater engagement across all KAB domains, while higher incomes (≥NT$110 000) correlated with higher awareness and stronger support for mitigation (OR = 1.85, 95% CI, 1.08-3.18) and behaviors (OR = 1.82, 95% CI, 1.06-3.11). Furthermore, a persistent gender gap was evident, with men showing lower odds of higher awareness of microplastic pollution and support for mitigation (OR = 0.72, 95% CI, 0.56-0.93) and behaviors (OR = 0.55, 95% CI, 0.42-0.70) than women. These deep-seated demographic gaps challenge the efficacy of one-size-fits-all environmental governance. By identifying the specific populations that are less engaged, this study provides a crucial evidence base for designing the equitable and targeted policy interventions needed to address the escalating threat of microplastic pollution.
Linking food insecurity to perceptions of food environments and diet quality: implications for health promotion in regional Australia.
Gebremariam AD, Charlton K, Visentin D … +2 more , Andrews K, Kent K
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41692708 · Publisher ↗
Food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Australia; yet, health promotion programs aimed at creating supportive food environments have received limited attention. This study examined how perceptions of the f...
Food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Australia; yet, health promotion programs aimed at creating supportive food environments have received limited attention. This study examined how perceptions of the food environment and perceived diet quality differ by food insecurity status, offering insights to guide Ottawa Charter-aligned health promotion strategies in regional Australia. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among adults residing in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions of Australia. Food insecurity was assessed using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Perceived food environment was measured with 11 Likert-scale questions (1 = strongly agree to 5 = strongly disagree) covering food availability, accessibility, affordability, and advertising. Perceived diet quality was assessed using a single self-rated question (1 = excellent to 5 = poor), alongside reported daily servings of fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). A binary food insecurity variable (food secure HFSSM = 0; food insecure HFSSM ≥1) was used to examine associations using linear regression, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables. Of 666 respondents, 38% (n = 255) experienced food insecurity (8% marginal, 19% moderate, 12% severe). Food-insecure respondents reported poorer perceptions of their overall food environment (β = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.51), including significantly poorer perceptions of the availability of healthy food, food accessibility, and food affordability. They also reported lower perceived diet quality (β = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.50), lower vegetable intake, and higher intake of SSBs. This study is the first to demonstrate that food insecurity is associated with poorer perceptions of the food environment and diet quality in regional Australians, underscoring the need for coordinated and multi-sectoral health promotion programs.
Integrating oral health in school health programs in Alberta, Canada: perspectives of health promotion professionals.
Surani N, Figueiredo R, Gokiert R … +2 more , Perez-Garcia A, Amin M
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41692707 · Publisher ↗
Oral health is linked to children's well-being and academic performance, yet its integration into school health programs remains limited. This study explored perspectives of school health promotion professionals in Alber...
Oral health is linked to children's well-being and academic performance, yet its integration into school health programs remains limited. This study explored perspectives of school health promotion professionals in Alberta, Canada, on challenges and enablers to integrating oral health into existing school health programs. Using a qualitative description methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 health promotion professionals, which included health promotion facilitators and oral health team, through four virtual focus groups. All focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using manifest, inductive content analysis. Enablers of adoption included school interest, ongoing oral health activities in schools, prioritization of oral health, gatekeeper trust, and health promotion professionals' influence, while challenges involved low prioritization and limited interest holder support. Implementation enablers included resource availability, partnerships and collaborations, existing programs in schools, and targeted strategies, while barriers included limited resources, overburdened staff, linguistic diversity, low parental engagement, inconsistent school support, lack of implementation guidelines, and uneven program delivery. Participants emphasized the following key factors as crucial to long-term sustainability-a comprehensive school health approach; early program initiation; resource provision; alignment with existing priorities, school curricula, and culture; and leveraging partnerships. Addressing identified challenges and drawing on existing strengths can support the development of holistic, sustainable school health programs that include oral health as a key component. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers, educators, and public health practitioners.
Economic evaluation of an implementation intervention to increase outdoor free play in early childhood education.
Grady A, Giles L, McCreanor V … +6 more , Ballinger C, Pearson N, Turon H, Wolfenden L, Lum M, Yoong SL
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41689424 · Publisher ↗
Get Outside Get Active (GOGA) is a multi-component implementation strategy (six strategies) to increase the provision of outdoor free play opportunities in early childhood education and care (ECEC). A randomized controll...
Get Outside Get Active (GOGA) is a multi-component implementation strategy (six strategies) to increase the provision of outdoor free play opportunities in early childhood education and care (ECEC). A randomized controlled trial with 84 ECECs within New South Wales, Australia found an increase of 61 min of outdoor free play opportunities per day, per service in the intervention compared with usual care at 6-months follow-up (P = .041). This study estimated the absolute costs associated with delivery of GOGA, and cost-effectiveness in terms of cost per additional minute of outdoor free play opportunities per day, per service. Costs ($AUD) were evaluated from health and ECEC service perspectives. Total and average costs per service to deliver GOGA and costs per strategy, per ECEC were calculated. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated for differences in costs and effects between intervention and usual care. The total cost of GOGA (42 intervention services) was $69 351 (average $1651 per service). Educational outreach visits were most expensive at $32 498 (average $774 per service, average one visit per service), with develop and distribute educational materials least expensive at $1490 (average $35 per service). The difference in mean cost between usual care and intervention (adjusted for baseline) was $3740 (95% CI $418, $11 218) per service, with an adjusted ICER of $64 (95% CI -$10, $809) per additional minute of outdoor free play opportunity per day, per service. Findings suggest GOGA may be considered cost-effective compared with a school-based physical activity implementation programme. Economic evaluations of similar ECEC-based programmes are recommended.
The evidence of things not seen.
Abimbola S
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41679341 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Coping with heat: exploring psychometric properties and relationships of a heat-related health literacy scale.
Friedrich J, Bachner J, Blaschke S … +2 more , Mess F, Schmid-Ellinger J
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41676950 · Publisher ↗
Climate change and rising temperatures are increasingly threatening public health, underscoring the need for effective strategies to manage heat-related risks. Promoting heat-related health literacy (HRHL) is crucial, ye...
Climate change and rising temperatures are increasingly threatening public health, underscoring the need for effective strategies to manage heat-related risks. Promoting heat-related health literacy (HRHL) is crucial, yet no validated scale exists to measure it. We developed a 20-item HRHL scale and tested it in a cross-sectional survey of 407 adults in Germany (50.6% female, M = 58.0, SD = 12.0 years). The scale was tested using exploratory structural equation modeling with a bootstrapping approach and reduced to 16 items (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96). A four-factor structure (finding, understanding, appraising, and applying heat-related health information) with a higher first-order factor with good fit indices (CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.03) was found. About 36% of respondents reported inadequate or problematic HRHL. The scale showed small but significant associations between understanding/appraising and heat wave knowledge, while all HRHL factors were moderately related to heat wave practice and behavior. The newly developed scale, which has been tested for its psychometric properties, can be used as a basis for epidemiological studies. It would subsequently allow the relationships between the targeted health behavior and constructs, such as heat-related practices and behaviors, to be further substantiated.
Evaluation of knowledge, training in, and attitude towards physical activity promotion within Scottish healthcare professionals.
Leese C, Innes C, McVerry M … +2 more , Mayaud J, Gallacher N
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41665083 · Publisher ↗
Physical inactivity remains a critical public health concern in the UK, contributing to over one in six deaths and imposing substantial economic costs. Despite strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of physical act...
Physical inactivity remains a critical public health concern in the UK, contributing to over one in six deaths and imposing substantial economic costs. Despite strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) promotion in healthcare settings, delivery of PA promotion remains inconsistent. This cross-sectional survey, conducted across Scotland and supported by Public Health Scotland, explored the knowledge, attitudes, and training of healthcare professionals (HCPs) across primary and secondary care in relation to PA promotion. Quantitative data were analysed employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for categorical variables, and Kruskal-Wallis tests for Likert-scale data to explore differences by care setting and profession. A total of 409 HCPs responded, including a broad range of professions. Primary care professionals reported higher perceived knowledge in PA promotion and personal confidence in meeting PA guidelines than their secondary care colleagues. Physiotherapists and doctors reported the greatest perceived adequacy of training in, and subsequent confidence to deliver PA promotion, while nurses reported the lowest. Across all professions, most participants recognized PA as important for disease prevention (98.8%) and treatment (93.3%), but only 68% felt confident advising patients. The findings identify a disconnect between perceived value of PA and HCPs' preparedness to promote it and highlight the need for standardized, interdisciplinary PA education and the integration of consistent PA messaging across healthcare settings. Targeted educational resources and system-level initiatives could enhance practitioner competence and ensure cohesive delivery of PA promotion within Scottish healthcare.
Listening to Aboriginal mothers: perspectives on infant nutrition and active play promotion.
Mitchell Mununjali F, Laws R, Love P … +4 more , Atkinson-Briggs Yorta Yorta S, Finlay Yorta Yorta SM, Thow Pennemuker/Ngati Porou S, Browne J
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41661202 · Publisher ↗
To provide culturally safe maternal and infant nutrition health promotion strategies, it is important that the views, experiences, and preferences of Aboriginal families are privileged. This study aimed to explore the vi...
To provide culturally safe maternal and infant nutrition health promotion strategies, it is important that the views, experiences, and preferences of Aboriginal families are privileged. This study aimed to explore the views, experiences, and preferences of Aboriginal mothers' regarding access to information and support on infant nutrition and active play in Victoria, Australia. Parents and caregivers of Aboriginal infants and children under the age of 5 years were invited to participate via Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in urban and regional Victoria. Indigenous research methods of Yarning and Dadirri were applied, and reflexive thematic analysis from an Aboriginal standpoint was used to analyse the yarn transcripts. In total, 16 participants took part, including ten mothers in individual yarns and four mothers and two grandmothers in a group-based yarn. Five themes were identified, (i) information ahead of time, (ii) 'how to' interactive guidance, (iii) flexible access to professional support, (iv) informal sources of support, and (v) visual, concise, culturally responsive and accessible information. This study's findings underscore the need for timely, multi-faceted, and culturally responsive infant nutrition and active play health promotion resources for Aboriginal families in Victoria as expressed by Aboriginal mothers and grandmothers. Digital resources offer promising opportunities when developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities and used alongside personalized support from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, trusted health professionals, and family members.
Community-based physical activity interventions in Hertfordshire (UK): a qualitative synthesis of service user and district lead perspectives.
Lyus R, Logue M
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41656651 · Publisher ↗
The Hertfordshire County Council Place Based Health Inequalities initiative funded 10 community-based physical activity interventions, each aiming to address specific local health inequalities. Target groups were identif...
The Hertfordshire County Council Place Based Health Inequalities initiative funded 10 community-based physical activity interventions, each aiming to address specific local health inequalities. Target groups were identified using locally defined inclusion criteria. This qualitative analysis explored the perspectives and experiences of service users, representing a diverse range of locally identified priority groups, and leads in district councils regarding the delivery, engagement, and perceived impacts of interventions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between October 2024 and January 2025 with service users (n = 8) and district leads (n = 8). Of 15 participants who shared demographic information, 12 identified as female, 3 as male, and most as White British. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded in Excel, and analysed using inductive framework analysis, with two researchers independently coding a subset of transcripts. Four overarching themes were identified: (i) health empowerment and behaviour change, (ii) benefits and challenges of targeted interventions, (iii) community, motivation and social support, and (iv) delivery challenges and sustainability. Findings revealed that targeted, culturally relevant interventions promoted engagement through representation. Group-based delivery fostered peer support, motivation, and community building. Participants reported increased awareness and control over health behaviours, with perceived improvements in physical fitness, weight management, and mental wellbeing. Challenges included difficulties recruiting participants, limited capacity within district teams, and limited impact due to the small scale and short-term nature of programmes. This study highlights the potential of community-based approaches for promoting engagement in physical activity interventions, while highlighting the need for sustained delivery models and greater local capacity to support long-term health impact.
Ultra-processed food narratives in social media forum posts: a content analysis of Reddit threads.
Denniss E, de Melo PR, Sievert K … +2 more , Russell C, Machado PP
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41640294 · Publisher ↗
Ultra-processed food (UPF) production and consumption, associated with chronic disease and environmental degradation, is increasing globally. The UPF concept has gained public attention in recent years and has raised con...
Ultra-processed food (UPF) production and consumption, associated with chronic disease and environmental degradation, is increasing globally. The UPF concept has gained public attention in recent years and has raised concerns of confusion among the public. This study aimed to explore Reddit-a popular online forum platform-discussions about UPFs to identify the main topics of discussion and how UPFs are discussed. A descriptive constructivist approach to qualitative content analysis was used to analyse threads from the r/ultraprocessedfood subreddit, with over 34 000 subscribers. The 'top' 50 threads from the subreddit (i.e. threads with highest engagement) were collected in January 2025. A coding framework was developed deductively to capture a range of UPF issues, including impacts and causal mechanisms. Two authors coded 50 threads comprised of 2730 comments and posted between 2023 and 2025. The most frequently discussed topic was food [n = 45 (90%) threads, n = 1188 (43.5%) comments], followed by dietary patterns [n = 37 (74%) threads, n = 415 (15.2%) comments], health [n = 43 (86%) threads, n = 404 (14.8%) comments], food system [n = 34 (68%) threads, n = 323 (11.8%) comments], and nutri-biochemical components [n = 34 (68%) threads, n = 322 (11.8%) comments]. The least discussed topic was planetary health [n = 13 (26%) threads, n = 25 (0.9%) comments]. Most comments contained information (n = 2,088, 76.5%) or personal strategies/experiences (n = 901, 33%), with a smaller number containing questions (n = 315, 11.5%) or expressing confusion (n = 15, 0.01%). Reddit users often expressed a love for cooking and anger towards unethical food industry practices and UPF harms. Public health communications may benefit from framing UPF messaging around social justice. This paper includes discussion of disordered eating.
Health Promotion International: four decades of impact.
Thomas S, Catford J, Daube M … +10 more , Kickbusch I, Francis J, Okan O, Dadaczynski K, Wild C, Kavanagh S, Lunnay B, Frazer K, Haynes A, Matthes B
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41640293 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Privatized employment services in Australia: addressing social, health, and equity impacts for health promotion.
Anaf J, Baum F, Freeman T
Health Promot Int · 2026 Jan · PMID 41626875 · Full text
Employment status is an important social determinant of health. Employment services mediate unemployed people's outcomes and experiences, including their psychosocial and physical health and well-being, but have received...
Employment status is an important social determinant of health. Employment services mediate unemployed people's outcomes and experiences, including their psychosocial and physical health and well-being, but have received little health promotion research attention. Over the past 30 years in Australia, employment service provision has been operating under a privatized model with five different policy iterations, yet there has been little consideration of the health impacts of this policy. Documentary methods examined these impacts, producing five key themes: (i) ideological underpinnings of privatization, (ii) the primacy of private interests, (iii) impacts on quality of service, (iv) negative social and health impacts, and (v) implications for equity. Perverse incentives, system gaming, and punitive forms of conditional welfare all lead to negative outcomes, including poverty and severe emotional distress, which unfairly affect people living in disadvantaged circumstances. There are growing calls for much greater direct government involvement in employment services to promote health and equity and public over private interests.
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