Mid-Course Reflection

Our learning journey is more than halfway, and time is moving fast. I revamped my eportfolio with a positionality statement that required me to be more detailed about who I am personally and professionally.

This course delves into the social health determinants, focusing on the Ottawa Charter of Health, a pivotal document that guides health promotion efforts (WHO, 2024). It also addresses issues related to chronic health and behavioural problems, as well as policies and guidelines in line with the World Health Organization (WHO, 2024). The importance of theory in health promotion is to enhance the outcomes of the possibilities in using a specific method for an individual’s health, community or population health based on what doesn't and what doesn’t for better intervention (Bergeron et al., 2017). I learned about many classmates’ roles in their professions, their passions and interests, and the issues in health care they face for health promotion.

Recently, and more importantly, I have been changing education platforms in my area of interest to improve health practitioners' equity when working with Indigenous people and ensure proper culturally appropriate training. The gaps in health care and education and the lack of funding for training in the health sector are issues with my topic. Health promotion is indeed a challenging field, and the difficulties I have encountered are an abundance of research already completed regarding the health of Indigenous people, calls to action investigations and social determinants (Loppie & Wien, 2009).

Understanding the planning theories, models, and frameworks utilized to implement and evaluate interventions is crucial (Government of Canada, 2001). I am particularly interested in understanding how specific models and frameworks, such as the health equity framework, have been developed to achieve better health outcomes in my evaluation.

References

Bergeron, K., Abdi, S., DeCorby, K., Mensah, G., Rempel, B., & Manson, H. (2017). Theories, models and frameworks used in capacity building interventions relevant to public health: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 914. http://0-dx.doi.org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.1186/s12889-017-4919-y

Government of Canada. (2001) Population Health Promotion: An Integrated Model of Population Health and Health Promotion https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/population-health-promotion-integrated-model-population-health-health-promotion/developing-population-health-promotion-model.html

Loppie Reading, C. & Wien, F. (2009). Health inequalities and social determinants of People's health. Prince George: National Collaborating Centre. https://www.ccnsa-nccah.ca/docs/determinants/RPT-HealthInequalities-Reading-Wien-EN.pdf

World Health Organization. (2024). Health Promotion. https://www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/enhanced-wellbeing/first-global-conference/actions#:~:text=The%20responsibility%20for%20health%20promotion,health%20service%20institutions%20and%20governments