Health Promotion International[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Gender differences in smoking cessation support: a qualitative study of Dutch healthcare professionals' experiences.
van de Kamer FM, Visser JEM, Rozema AD … +3 more , Kunst AE, van Valkengoed IGM, Kuipers MAG
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41212635 · Full text
Effectiveness of smoking cessation support differs between men and women. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the gender differences, this study aimed to investigate the experiences of professionals providi...
Effectiveness of smoking cessation support differs between men and women. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the gender differences, this study aimed to investigate the experiences of professionals providing support, focusing on perceived variations by clients' and professionals' gender. In 2024, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 professionals providing smoking cessation support in the Netherlands. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an inductive reflexive thematic approach. Gender differences were categorized into themes related to the clients' and professionals' gender. Identified themes related to clients' gender were the following: openness to support (e.g. men more often show resistance to support in contrast to women who are generally more open to support), type of support needed (e.g. men more often need structured support), clients' attitude in the support (e.g. men more often have a pragmatic attitude, women are more likely to talk about feelings), and interaction between client and professional (e.g. men should be challenged more and women should be encouraged in their quitting process). Themes related to the professionals' gender were: professionals' portrayal in the support (e.g. professional men are more likely to project authority, professional women are often more easily accessible) and interaction between professional and client (e.g. professional men are more likely to communicate more directly, professional women are more likely to be gentle). The differences suggest that the gender of both clients and professionals may influence the support provided, highlighting the importance of taking gender differences into account when providing smoking cessation support.
The experience of receiving smoking cessation services in individuals who smoke cigarettes in Taiwan: a qualitative study.
Weng LY, Syu JY, Li CY … +8 more , Wu JL, Lee SC, Pan AN, Kuo CW, Chen CY, Chou YT, Wu CH, Lin EC
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41206020 · Publisher ↗
With an associated mortality of 8 million per year, the hazards of smoking make it one of the most concerning public health problems worldwide. To reduce the public health burden, smoking cessation programs have been imp...
With an associated mortality of 8 million per year, the hazards of smoking make it one of the most concerning public health problems worldwide. To reduce the public health burden, smoking cessation programs have been implemented in various locations, including Taiwan. However, the experience of individuals receiving smoking cessation services remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored first-hand experience, feelings, and expectations of individuals who smoke cigarettes regarding smoking cessation services. The experiences of nine users of smoking cessation services in outpatient departments and pharmacies were qualitatively assessed with focus group interviewing. Six steps of content analysis were used to analyze the data, and member validation was performed to verify the rigor of data analysis. Two major themes were identified: "negative experience from receiving poorly fitting services" and "expectations for better care in the future." Most participants experienced the alienation and mistrust from healthcare providers and expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of smoking cessation services, including cessation products, follow-up calls and check-up questionnaires, and smoking cessation education. Mental support with understanding from healthcare providers, more adaptable smoking cessation products and engaging follow-up, recommended approaches education, and loving support from peers, family, and friends are expected for future smoking cessation care. These results might guide policymakers and healthcare providers to improve smoking cessation effectiveness and implement individually tailored interventions.
'I don't consider cancer when I'm grabbing the beer': Discursive strategies used by midlife New Zealanders to undermine alcohol-cancer risks.
Lyons AC, Kersey K, Young J … +3 more , Stephens C, Blake D, Anderson R
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41206019 · Full text
Compared with other age groups, adults at midlife consume alcohol at relatively high levels. Alcohol has been linked to a number of long-term health risks, including cancer, although awareness of cancer risk is low. The...
Compared with other age groups, adults at midlife consume alcohol at relatively high levels. Alcohol has been linked to a number of long-term health risks, including cancer, although awareness of cancer risk is low. The current study aimed to examine how adults at midlife talk about, understand and consider alcohol-related cancer risks within their life contexts. Individual interviews were undertaken with 37 adults (41-64 years; 28 female, 9 male) about their alcohol consumption, views on the health risks of drinking, and understandings of the alcohol-cancer association. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and subjected to a discursive analysis. Participants constructed their drinking as low-risk because it was controlled, responsible, and moderate. They used discursive strategies to undermine the evidence on the cancer risks of alcohol by contrasting it with (stronger) evidence for tobacco risk, drawing on personal accounts of exceptional cases, and displaying 'risk fatigue' because alcohol was just one of many carcinogens they navigate in daily life. The pleasure they derived from alcohol outweighed cancer risks. Cancer risk evidence was itself constructed as risky because people with cancer could be blamed for their disease. These findings show that public health messages about alcohol and cancer risk need to incorporate people's own sense-making about alcohol and risk within their lives, including notions of pleasure. Unintended consequences of current messaging include short-term risks (to health and wellbeing) and moral risks (potential for people to be blamed for cancer) and therefore may be ignored or resisted by target populations.
Implementation support structure for the Dutch Health Promoting School program: a multiple case study.
Vennegoor G, van Assema P, Jansen MWJ … +2 more , Dieleman J, Molleman GRM
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41206018 · Full text
Support structures are available to schools worldwide for the implementation of Health Promoting School (HPS) programs. To get more insight in these structures, this multiple case study aimed to map variation in levels o...
Support structures are available to schools worldwide for the implementation of Health Promoting School (HPS) programs. To get more insight in these structures, this multiple case study aimed to map variation in levels of support within eight Public Health Service (PHS) regions in the Netherlands and associations with contextual factors. Designed together with a Community of Practice, the study included two rounds of semistructured group interviews (N = 1-4 employees; ±3.5 hours per case) and document analysis. Data were collected on eight indicators of the level of support (e.g. intensity and reach) and 24 contextual factors relating to Healthy School Advisers, PHSs, stakeholder collaboration, and the wider context. Scores were assigned for all indicators and factors per region, and patterns were examined. Results showed large variation in the level of support across cases, mainly in intensity of provided support, integration in the PHS, and reach in terms of percentage of certified HPS schools. Some aspects such as advisers' context sensitivity scored low in all cases. Key contextual factors were related to the PHS: its policy, internal support, capacity, and (structural) budget. Other important factors related to collaboration with regional stakeholders: coordination, division of responsibilities, and communication structure. Structural budget and strategic stakeholder coordination could be improved in all cases. In conclusion, there is much room for improvement toward sufficient and higher quality HPS implementation support for all schools in the Netherlands. To strengthen support, it is important to establish commitment of the PHS organization, strong coordination between stakeholders, and strong national positioning of the HPS program. These conclusions might also apply to other countries.
'I just didn't find time to exercise': Co-designed physical activity resources for young Australian shiftworkers.
Sprajcer M, Shriane AE, Ferguson SA … +11 more , Gupta CC, Smith RG, Kim JJ, Baum CL, Kolbe-Alexander T, Stanton R, Thomas MJW, Paterson JL, Gallagher C, Rigney G, Vincent GE
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41189323 · Full text
Shiftworkers are vital to essential industries yet often experience adverse health impacts, including barriers to regular physical activity. Young shiftworkers face additional challenges due to the transitional life stag...
Shiftworkers are vital to essential industries yet often experience adverse health impacts, including barriers to regular physical activity. Young shiftworkers face additional challenges due to the transitional life stage and the increase of unhealthy behaviours. This study aimed to co-design tailored, evidence-based physical activity resources to support the health and wellbeing of young shiftworkers. A participatory co-design approach was undertaken, involving 48 co-designers, including young, experienced, and former shiftworkers, workplace health and safety professionals, science communicators, and academic experts. Participants attended 1-2 of eight online workshops. Data from the recorded and transcribed workshops informed resource development and included the identification of key physical activity topics and effective communication strategies. A combined inductive and deductive thematic analysis identified 22 unique codes, which were synthesized into five major themes: physical activity basics, impacts of insufficient physical activity, physical activity for shiftworkers, strategies and actions for shiftworkers, and recommendations for workplaces. These themes guided the development of a public-facing website containing evidence-based, context-relevant physical activity resources tailored specifically for young shiftworkers. A motivational and positive framing was consistently endorsed to enhance engagement and support behaviour change. The final resources reflect the diverse perspectives of co-designers and offer a scalable and practical tool to promote physical activity in this priority population. Further research should investigate resource uptake, usability, and behavioural outcomes over time.
Policy lessons on fruits and vegetables from the Philippine high-value crops and organic agriculture programs.
Borazon EQ, Thow AM, Harris J … +2 more , Perera SC, Cliffer IR
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41170800 · Publisher ↗
Low fruit and vegetable consumption is a major dietary risk factor globally, yet many countries, including the Philippines, under-prioritize this sector compared to staple crops. This study analyses the policy context fo...
Low fruit and vegetable consumption is a major dietary risk factor globally, yet many countries, including the Philippines, under-prioritize this sector compared to staple crops. This study analyses the policy context for fruits and vegetables in the Philippines, focusing on the implementation of two key programs of the Department of Agriculture-the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP)-to identify enabling factors, challenges, and transferable lessons for strengthening fruit and vegetable policy. Guided by policy learning and multiple streams theory, 44 key informant interviews were conducted with stakeholders across government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The findings reveal that the HVCDP and NOAP offer complementary and mutually reinforcing strengths in supporting the fruit and vegetable sector. Both programs demonstrate effectiveness through multi-level and vertically integrated governance. HVCDP contributes through its emphasis on infrastructure investment and crop-specific planning, while NOAP strengthens the system through an end-to-end value chain approach, including capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, and accessible certification mechanisms tailored to smallholder organic producers. Despite these strengths, both programs face challenges, including policy fragmentation, inconsistent funding, research-farmer disconnects, limited market development, and insufficient technical support. We recommend five areas for enhancement: strengthening policy coordination through integrated frameworks, improving funding allocation, enhancing research-farmer linkages, developing market systems, and strengthening extension services. These insights contribute to knowledge on effective fruit and vegetable policies within food systems frameworks, offering guidance for similar contexts seeking to improve nutrition outcomes through greater policy prioritization of fruits and vegetables.
Exploring barriers and facilitators to digital health literacy among immigrant mothers in Quebec City.
Plaisimond J, Corona E, M'bangha M … +1 more , Gagnon MP
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41170799 · Full text
The shift to a digitalized health system brings particular challenges for immigrant mothers who experience a triple adaptation: becoming a mother, navigating a new healthcare system and using technology. This study aims...
The shift to a digitalized health system brings particular challenges for immigrant mothers who experience a triple adaptation: becoming a mother, navigating a new healthcare system and using technology. This study aims to explore digital health literacy barriers perceived by immigrant mothers and facilitators that could sustain their empowerment related to their health and that of their family. An ethnographic study based on the socioecological model was used to analyze data collected from three individual interviews and two focus groups. The results of the interviews and focus groups allowed us to understand the cultural impact of the lack of digital literacy in the context of healthcare for immigrant mothers in their host country, as well as the barriers and facilitators to access and use digital health information. This study identifies individual, organizational and global level barriers to accessing digital health services amongst immigrant mothers. It also highlighted potential strategies that could support their empowerment in accessing and using digital health resources for their health and that of their family. For instance, training and coaching to help immigrant mothers navigate the health care system are needed. It is also important to adapt public policies to better support the integration of immigrant families in their host country.
Design and evaluation of a co-produced social media campaign to promote aquatic safety in Queensland national parks.
Cornell S, Piatkowski T, Brander RW … +1 more , Peden AE
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41166450 · Full text
Social media increasingly shapes how visitors engage with aquatic locations in national parks, where risky behaviours contribute to drowning and injury risk. Selfies and photography with mobile phones have been implicate...
Social media increasingly shapes how visitors engage with aquatic locations in national parks, where risky behaviours contribute to drowning and injury risk. Selfies and photography with mobile phones have been implicated in fatal and non-fatal injury, due to distraction leading to a loss of awareness of a person's surroundings. We partnered with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to co-produce and evaluate a targeted Instagram water safety campaign at an injury hotspot, with specific focus on campaign design, audience engagement, message recall, and user perceptions. Campaign development was informed by social media user and influencer interviews, surveys with social media users, frontline ranger observations, and patterns of visitor behaviour on social media. Between January and February 2024, Instagram posts highlighting site-specific risks were disseminated. The campaign generated strong engagement: over 4000 link clicks, more than 100 shares, and 254 post saves. Content analysis showed polarized user responses: 20% found the messaging informative and useful, while another 20% found it patronizing. In-person surveys at the site (n = 50) found that 32% of visitors reported social media influenced their decision to visit. Separately, a third (32%) of participants recalled at least one of the campaign's safety messages, with Post B being the most recalled. The findings suggest that social media can be a low-cost and impactful tool for aquatic risk communication at high-visitation sites. Future work should focus on refining tone, testing co-design approaches with target audiences, and exploring the potential role of influencer partnerships to enhance reach and resonance.
Are childcare settings' food menus fit for purpose? A qualitative analysis in England.
Warren E, Williams L, Exley J … +5 more , Boadu P, Erens B, Brackley D, Osborne R, Knai C
Health Promot Int · 2025 Oct · PMID 41166449 · Full text
Childcare settings have a central role in feeding pre-school-aged infants and children. One of the ways in which childcare settings plan nutritious, balanced, and varied meals and snacks for preschool-aged infants and ch...
Childcare settings have a central role in feeding pre-school-aged infants and children. One of the ways in which childcare settings plan nutritious, balanced, and varied meals and snacks for preschool-aged infants and children (0-5 years) is through the use of a menu. Nevertheless, international studies indicate an overwhelming heterogeneity in uptake of menus, as well as use and format, with variable details of food and drinks provided. Thus, in the context of a nationally representative survey on food provision in early years settings in England, we invited respondents to upload sample menus. Of the 322 settings that completed the survey, 56 submitted menus (17.4%). Five were excluded because the attachment was either not a menu or was illegible. Data contained in the 51 readable menus was extracted into an Excel spreadsheet designed deductively from available guidance on menus and inductively based on patterns emerging from the menus themselves. The menus demonstrated great variations in depth of information, completeness and clarity. Breakfasts, snacks, and beverages were often excluded from menus or the information about them was unclear. Menus also sometimes contained dishes with names that were unclear. Early years settings are expected to promote healthy eating, but their ability to do so is shaped by wider structural factors. Thus while childcare settings can play a crucial role in the health promotion of young children during a time of vital development, the wider policy context and challenges faced by childcare settings and families must be addressed.
Listening to the voices of Guatemalan community leaders: a participatory approach to identifying priorities to curtail HIV within transgender communities.
Rhodes SD, Villafuerte-Sandoval HA, Aguilar-Palma SK … +3 more , Mann-Jackson L, Alonzo J, Romero-Sandoval EA
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41133686 · Full text
Transgender (trans) communities in Guatemala are severely and disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with overall HIV prevention and care services severely limited. Our binational communit...
Transgender (trans) communities in Guatemala are severely and disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with overall HIV prevention and care services severely limited. Our binational community-based participatory research partnership sought to identify priorities for advancing HIV health equity and curtailing the epidemic within Guatemalan transgender communities. In June 2024, we held five stratified, in-person Spanish-language listening sessions in Guatemala City with community leaders (N = 18) representing grassroots trans advocacy groups, frontline mental health providers, and community-based and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) organizations. Constant comparison was used to analyze listening session data. Nine macrolevel themes were identified including the context in which Guatemalan trans communities live-a context characterized by profound stigmatization and discrimination, the pathologization of sexual and gender minorities, and violence. Twenty-four actionable community priorities were also identified, including improving HIV surveillance, addressing social and structural stigma and discrimination, ensuring comprehensive provider training, conducting community-centered research, enhancing mental health services, and addressing upstream social determinants of health (e.g. economic opportunities). While further research is needed, our findings offer insights into the experiences of Guatemalan trans communities, highlight community priorities for advancing health equity and curtailing the HIV epidemic, and provide a roadmap for culturally responsive interventions and policy development.
Hungry for connection: associations between social isolation, mental health, and food insecurity in regional Australian adults.
Kent K, Gebremariam AD, Visentin D … +3 more , Andrews K, Potter G, Charlton K
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41133685 · Full text
Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a public health issue with social and psychological dimensions. However, evidence on its association with mental health and social isolation in regional Australia remains lim...
Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a public health issue with social and psychological dimensions. However, evidence on its association with mental health and social isolation in regional Australia remains limited. A cross-sectional online survey among adults (≥18 years) living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of Australia assessed food insecurity using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, categorized into 'food secure' (score = 0) or 'food insecure' (score = 1+). Self-rated mental health and physical health (excellent/good vs. fair/poor) and reported diagnosis of a mental health condition was determined. Social isolation was assessed using six individual indicators and a composite social isolation score dichotomized participants into high versus low isolation. Multivariate logistic regression models examined associations between mental health, social isolation, and food insecurity, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics. Of participants (n = 666; 80% female; 57.1% university education), 38.3% experienced food insecurity. Poor self-rated mental health (22%) was associated with increased odds of food insecurity (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.47-3.96), as was diagnosed mental illness (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.46-3.71) and poor self-rated physical health (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.23-3.44). Participants with high social isolation on the composite score (15.5%) had two times higher odds of food insecurity compared with those with low isolation (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.09-4.26). Strong associations were also observed for individual indicators. Findings demonstrate strong links between food insecurity, mental health, and social isolation in regional Australia. Addressing food insecurity requires integrated strategies that combine material assistance with initiatives to strengthen social connectedness.
Approaches to assessment of community level health literacy: a scoping review.
McKenna VB, Mathew JB, Finn Y … +1 more , Sixsmith J
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41124601 · Full text
Addressing health literacy at the community level can provide the potential for improving health knowledge, skills, and behaviours that can ultimately lead to better health outcomes. While many tools exist for measuring...
Addressing health literacy at the community level can provide the potential for improving health knowledge, skills, and behaviours that can ultimately lead to better health outcomes. While many tools exist for measuring individual and disease-specific health literacy, community and critical health literacy have received less attention. The review focuses on geographic communities and includes the concepts of 'health literacy', 'critical health literacy', and 'assessment'. Key information sources for the review were Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, and PsycINFO, along with Google Scholar for grey literature. Hand searches of reference lists from included studies were also conducted. The search was limited to articles published between 1 January 2010, and 1 June 2023, with no restrictions on data collection methods or study design. Data were charted following guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA ScR. Initially, 14 216 citations were retrieved, with 8612 remaining after removing duplicates. Double-blind screening of titles and abstracts resulted in 33 articles, which underwent double-blind full-text screening. Three articles were included, and a hand search identified one more, totalling four articles. The small number of eligible articles and the heterogeneity of content reflect the nascent stage of development of community level health literacy and its assessment. The review findings highlight the need to develop tools to assess community level health literacy to support interventions in empowering communities in maintaining and promoting their own health.
Continuing the vision: engaging the Ottawa Charter for future 'healthy public policy'.
Lunnay B, Baum F, Angelo C … +1 more , Crawford G
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41100676 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
'They build roads, not cycle paths': a qualitative study of Pacific children's physical activity barriers.
Ryan ST, Randle M, Waqa G … +3 more , Stanley RM, Bissoonauth-Bedford A, Okely AD
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41100078 · Full text
The Pacific Islands have high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are preventable by ensuring healthy levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in childhood. This study explored barriers and f...
The Pacific Islands have high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are preventable by ensuring healthy levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in childhood. This study explored barriers and facilitators to children meeting PA and sedentary behaviour guidelines through the lens of stakeholders involved in the care and education of children in four Pacific Islands. Qualitative interviews were conducted English or French in Fiji (n = 10), French Polynesia (n = 6), New Caledonia (n = 7), and Wallis and Futuna (n = 4) between 2019 and 2022. French recordings were transcribed using HappyScribe.com and translated. Deductive and inductive qualitative analysis was conducted and presented based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory and classified into the five categories of the Social Ecological Model (SEM). At the intrapersonal level, concerns were expressed about the lack of awareness of PA and sedentary behaviour guidelines from children and caregivers. At the intrapersonal level, negative caregiver attitudes towards PA perceived inability to control screen time rules were highlighted, alongside challenges within school settings. At the organizational level, the importance of sports organizations to provide opportunities for children to be active was highlighted. At the environmental level, the lack of urban planning, green space, and safe outdoor areas emerged as key barriers. At the policy level, the need for policy changes to support PA promotion in schools, particularly regarding prescriptive curricula, was stressed. Future interventions need to be culturally responsive, while including strategies that consider the urban-rural divide in the Pacific Islands. Schools and religious institutions can play a key role in promoting active lifestyles for children.
Co-creating a systems map with adolescents: combining participatory research and systems thinking in YoPA Denmark.
Madsen L, Pawlowski CS, Schipperijn J … +2 more , Chinapaw MJM, Altenburg TM
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41098137 · Publisher ↗
A large number of adolescents, particularly adolescents from underserved neighborhoods, often fail to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, increasing their risk of developing noncommunicable diseases. Physical inactiv...
A large number of adolescents, particularly adolescents from underserved neighborhoods, often fail to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, increasing their risk of developing noncommunicable diseases. Physical inactivity among adolescents is considered a complex problem driven by multiple, interrelated factors, and participatory action research is a valuable approach for exploring and improving the systems that influence adolescents' PA behaviors from the perspective of adolescents themselves. By using the Youth-Centered Participatory Action Denmark project, conducted in two youth clubs in underserved neighborhoods, as a case example, the aim of this paper was to demonstrate how participatory action research and systems thinking can be applied in practice to co-create a systems map on adolescents' outdoor PA. The adolescents participated as co-researchers, actively using their lived experiences and priorities to shape the research. Five key drivers of outdoor PA were identified from the system map: sense of belonging, maintenance of outdoor space, peer influence, accessible and attractive spaces, and the role of youth club staff. These drivers highlight the complexity of promoting outdoor PA and underscore the need for interventions that address multiple aspects and levels of the system. By combining participatory action research and systems thinking, this study provides insights into the mechanisms that shape adolescents' outdoor PA, from the perspective of adolescents themselves. The developed system map will serve as a starting point for co-developing interventions to increase outdoor PA among adolescents, in close collaboration with the adolescents themselves.
Challenges faced by health policymakers responding to COVID-19 in remote communities in Northwest Territories, Canada.
Zakkar M, Kolahdooz F, Jang SL … +6 more , Wagg A, DeLancey D, Irlbacher-Fox S, Corriveau A, Gotay C, Sharma S
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41098136 · Full text
The health systems' response to the COVID-19 pandemic controlled the virus's spread but exposed fragmented systems and operational challenges globally. Understanding these issues is essential for enhancing health system...
The health systems' response to the COVID-19 pandemic controlled the virus's spread but exposed fragmented systems and operational challenges globally. Understanding these issues is essential for enhancing health system capabilities and improving future pandemic responses. This study explored the perspectives of health policymakers in Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, on the challenges to responding to COVID-19 and implementing the necessary public health measures in the jurisdiction. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive design and a community-based participatory research approach. Framework analysis, guided by the World Health Organization's Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management framework, was used for data analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research were followed. Convenience sampling was used to recruit policymakers working in NWT. Data were collected between June and August 2021 from 65 policymakers using semi-structured interviews. Participants worked in territorial (71.7%), regional (14.3%), and community (14.3%) organizations. Four themes were identified: governance (e.g. unclear roles and responsibilities, policy lag, and limited community consultation), public risk communication (e.g. complexity of information and language barriers), community-level (e.g. community's distrust of the health system and geographic barriers), and health system challenges (e.g. limited human resource capacity and material resources, absence of robust information systems). To build a resilient health system in NWT for future pandemics, it is essential to define roles and responsibilities, collaborate with healthcare providers and community leaders, develop efficient data infrastructure, and enhance system capacity. Effective communication and fostering trust between the government and communities are important.
Reducing classroom sedentary behaviour: a scoping review of interventions and student involvement.
Dinkelspiel Ekman S, Nair M, Gredin NV … +1 more , Lindgren EC
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41092220 · Full text
Sedentary behaviour is increasingly common and is becoming a challenge to maintain the young population healthy. This scoping review aims to identify the existing literature on strategies for altering the classroom desig...
Sedentary behaviour is increasingly common and is becoming a challenge to maintain the young population healthy. This scoping review aims to identify the existing literature on strategies for altering the classroom design to reduce sedentary behaviour in classroom settings during lessons and the impact of interventions. Three electronic databases (ERIC, PsycInfo, and Scopus) were searched for relevant literature. A total of 40 eligible articles from different countries published between January 2003 and April 2024 were included in the review, which was carried out to identify interventions to prevent sedentary behaviour by redesigning the classroom. The methodology was conducted by the framework presented by Arksey and O'Malley and is reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The findings reveal various approaches to preventing sedentary behaviour through active desks (e.g. standing desks, sit-to-stand desks, bicycling desks, and stability balls). Most studies focused on stand-biased desks, targeting students (9-12 years old) and were primarily from the USA. Since standing was voluntary, only minor bouts of standing and movement were typically achieved. Only a few studies included partial co-design elements. The thematic analysis identifies the impact of the different interventions. Five themes were found: impact on physical activity, classroom behaviour, cognitive performance, physical and/or mental well-being and challenges. The findings suggest that standing at standing desks while studying does not pose significant physical or mental challenges for students, although some physical fatigue was observed after prolonged standing up. However, a key gap was the absence of co-design in the intervention process. Trial registration: The scoping review protocol was not pre-registered.
Addressing student substance use in Canadian schools: an exploration of administrators' perspectives.
Molyneux TM, Daly Z, Richardson CG … +10 more , Amlani A, Dmytro D, Trépanier-Bisson N, Gadermann A, Goodyear T, Gilham C, Ngieng N, Sam J, Moore-Arbour S, Jenkins E
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41092219 · Full text
To support the development of evidence-informed guidance for Canadian Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) school administrators, this study examined their perceptions of the scope of student substance use and the challe...
To support the development of evidence-informed guidance for Canadian Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) school administrators, this study examined their perceptions of the scope of student substance use and the challenges they face in responding within school settings. An online, cross-sectional survey collected data from 204 Canadian school administrators, capturing their experiences and perspectives on student substance use, including the types of challenges encountered, time spent addressing them, perceived capacity to respond, and differences across school levels (elementary, middle, and secondary). Responses from elementary/middle and secondary school administrators were compared in the analysis. Approximately 90% of administrators reported frequent student substance use challenges. The most common challenges were vaping (63.7%) and substance use on school property (41.7%). Secondary school administrators reported significantly more challenges and were more likely to spend in excess of 5 hours weekly addressing substance use. Most administrators reported a willingness to change practices (64.7%), but fewer felt equipped or effective in their current approaches. Student substance use poses a significant challenge for Canadian schools, particularly at the secondary level, increasing administrator workload. Administrators report feeling underprepared and insufficiently supported, despite a willingness to act. Findings highlight an urgent need for developmentally informed, evidence-aligned strategies and resources to support school-based responses to substance use and overall school health promotion.
Correction to: Peer-led public service announcement creation workshops for adolescent sexual and reproductive health education in Kenya.
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41069329 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Bridging knowledge and practice: Adolescent sexual reproductive health in Northern Vietnam's mountainous ethnic communities.
Nguyen HTH, Hoang AP, Nguyen GH … +5 more , Tran TN, Nguyen NTT, Do QT, Nguyen AC, Nguyen A
Health Promot Int · 2025 Sep · PMID 41058600 · Full text
This study examines adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) awareness, confidence, and lived experience in a mountainous area of Northern Vietnam, focusing on the impact of cultural factors and local norms. A qu...
This study examines adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) awareness, confidence, and lived experience in a mountainous area of Northern Vietnam, focusing on the impact of cultural factors and local norms. A qualitative study using semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with adolescents aged 12-18 from ethnic minority groups in two communes of Thuan Chau district and four wards of Son La city. The interviews explored their knowledge and confidence in practicing ASRH, perceptions of ASRH services, and barriers to accessing care. Data were analyzed thematically to identify key trends in ASRH awareness and behaviors. The findings reveal a critical gap between knowledge and action: although many participants knew where to access contraceptives, they lacked the confidence to use them, driven by fear of judgment from family, peers, and healthcare providers. This gap is widened by deeply ingrained cultural norms, including traditional gender roles and expectations of early childbearing, which severely limit the decision-making autonomy of adolescents, particularly girls from ethnic minority communities. Addressing ASRH challenges in this context requires interventions that move beyond simple information dissemination. Efforts must focus on building adolescent confidence by developing youth-friendly, confidential ASRH services and implementing community-level interventions aimed at transforming the restrictive cultural beliefs and social stigma that hinder safe ASRH practices.
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