738 Transition towards health promoting hospitals: adapting a global framework to Pakistan

Abstract

The World Health Organization encourages hospitals to become Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) but adapting this concept to Pakistan has not been investigated. We explore perceptions of healthcare stakeholders about strategies and a priority action-plan to encourage HPHs in Pakistan. We conducted a qualitative study in 2007 where key-informant interviews and focus group discussions were held with healthcare stakeholders in Karachi. Thematic analysis was done and emerging themes were categorized. The HPH core components were perceived as the "standard framework"; however more emphasis was placed on priority actions as to satisfy "basic needs" of patients, staff and the community. This included basic facilities of comfort, health, hygiene, safety, security and emotional support. A change in the traditional mindset from cure to care and identification of key personnel, awareness-raising and cooperation would strengthen advocacy efforts for HPH in Pakistan. RÉSUMÉ L'OMS encourage les hôpitaux à devenir des hôpitaux engagés dans la promotion de la santé, mais l'adaptation de ce concept au Pakistan n'a pas été étudiée. Nous avons dégagé les perceptions des parties prenantes dans le secteur des soins de santé concernant les stratégies et le plan d'action prioritaire afin d'encourager les hôpitaux engagés dans la promotion de la santé au Pakistan. Nous avons conduit une étude qualitative en 2007 au cours de laquelle des entretiens avec des informateurs clés et des groupes de discussion thématiques ont été organisés à Karachi avec les parties prenantes du secteur des soins de santé. Une analyse thématique a été réalisée et les thèmes dégagés ont été classés. Les composantes essentielles des hôpitaux engagés dans la promotion de la santé ont été perçues en tant que « cadre de référence » ; toutefois, l'accent a été mis sur les actions prioritaires afin de satisfaire les « besoins fondamentaux » des patients, du personnel et de la communauté. Ces besoins comprennent des installations de base où l'on trouve confort, santé, hygiène, sécurité, sûreté et soutien psychologique. Une évolution des mentalités vers les soins préventifs, alors qu'elles sont traditionnellement axées sur les soins curatifs, et l'identification des personnels clés, la sensibilisation et la coopération pourraient renforcer les efforts de plaidoyer en faveur des hôpitaux engagés dans la promotion de la santé au Pakistan.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫السابع‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫العارش‬ ‫العدد‬ 739

Health promoting Hospitals in Iran: How it is

“…The HPH coordinator is the minimum structure required for the membership of hospitals in the HPH network ( 4 – 5 ). The existence of a structure and framework for implementing health promotion programs in the present study has been referred to as Technique.…”

“…On the other hand, the employees in hospitals suffer from high levels of job stress ( 3 ). Therefore, the plan of “Health Promoting Hospitals” (HPH) was launched more than a decade ago ( 4 – 5 ). This plan refers to the fact that the hospital activities should be aimed not only at therapeutic and diagnostic activities ( 6 ) but also at disease prevention and health promotion, and the hospital services should be targeted to the needs of the people ( 7 ).…”

The Impact of Setting the Standards of Health Promoting Hospitals on Hospital Indicators in Iran

“…The World Health Organization with the publication of "The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion," in 1986 offered the first definition of health promotion services [1]. Accordingly, health promotion encompasses concepts of health education, prevention of diseases, and rehabilitation services [2] and it includes an essential part of the continuum of treatment and clinical services [3].…”

“…Emphasis on prevention of diseases and health promotion services provided an opportunity for demanding and establishing health promotion services in hospitals. In the meantime, due to the dynamic role of hospitals in providing comprehensive health care services and benefits to patients, care takers, staff and the community, orienting clinical and therapeutic services towards the improvement of health services in hospitals seems necessary [1]. In addition to this, hospitals because of their central role in providing health services in the community and their interaction with different categories of patients, staff and organizations have great potentials to influence health promotion services and provide these services [4].…”

“…This will be achieved by establishing health promoting hospitals. The World Health Organization also encourage hospitals to adopt standards for optimum health promotion [1] and in defining health promoting hospital has stated that a health promoting hospital should go beyond providing high quality comprehensive medical and nursing services and developing a corporate identity that embraces participatory roles for patients and staff, seeks active links to cooperate with the community, and creates supportive environments for sustainable ecological development [8]. In health promoting hospitals, patients, their family members and health care providers have participatory roles in the decision-making process and health providing services.…”