American Journal of Health Promotion最新文献

PurposeDescribe the Perspectives of Psychiatry approach and how it was integrated into an employer-based mental health engagement program.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingWorkplace-based.Sample913 employees.InterventionThe Johns Hopkins Balance program is a novel, employer-initiated mental health engagement program. The Balance program integrates the Perspectives of Psychiatry (Perspectives) ideology for mental health care and takes a population health and psychoeducational approach to screening and care connection.MeasuresUtilization and engagement rates, algorithm-based mental health symptom risk, Perspectives-based risk.AnalysisChi squared tests for risk categorization associations, odds ratio high risk categorization, frequency and percentage of referral types.Results94% (860/913) of participants who registered completed the Balance assessment and 14% (130/913) completed a care concierge visit. Referrals were placed for 69% (90/130) of employees who completed a care concierge visit. A person identified as high risk by the standardized assessments had 6.74 (4.38, 10.71) times the odds of endorsing a concern on at least one of the Perspectives. An additional 28 participants were identified as high risk based on their own concern after scoring low risk on the standardized assessment. Of the 117 referrals placed, 96.6% (113/117) were in individuals scoring high risk on the assessment.ConclusionA population health and psychoeducational approach to employer-based mental health engagement can successfully identify risk and connect employees to care.

PurposeA case example describing a teen-led council convened by an integrated health system. We seek to share the approach and impact of this work with the broader health services and promotion field.Approach or DesignA stakeholder-informed formative evaluation.SettingIntegrated health system in Upper Midwest.ParticipantsProgram staff, a program alumna, external program partners, subject matter experts, and current council members.MethodThis evaluation was informed by a literature review, data previously collected by the program, key informant conversations, and a participatory data collection activity with current council members. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to describe council framework and stakeholder-identified outcomes.ResultsInformed by best practices in authentic youth engagement and youth-adult partnership, this council has had a positive impact on participants, the convening health system, and the community served by the health system, in service of adolescent health and well-being.ConclusionThis formative evaluation demonstrates how youth are able to take on a leadership role and have a positive impact on adolescent care delivery and health promotion.

PurposeScreening for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol during a voluntary wellness program visit.DesignObservational study based on secondary data collected between 2000 and 2017.Setting and sampleData included 4876 visits from 2309 unique participants, all employees of an academic institution in United States.MeasuresWe leverage clinical guidelines to define criteria for classifying a patient as susceptible, or not, to a chronic disease.AnalysisWe perform descriptive statistics and logistic regression to quantify the association between patient characteristics and their susceptibility to chronic conditions.ResultsThe prevalence of susceptibility for diabetes is 17.03% (18.29%) for one-time (frequent) participants, for high blood pressure is 44.76% (48.27%), and for high cholesterol is 8.97% (7.33%). The risks of diabetes and high blood pressure increase with age, and all three risks increase with BMI. Being female is associated with a lower risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Race is generally not associated with a higher risk of chronic conditions, except for high blood pressure. We also find that each of the three risks is positively and strongly associated with the other two.ConclusionOur study provides evidence that wellness program checks can serve as viable screening opportunities for alerting participants when their health exhibits concerning signs associated with chronic diseases.

PurposeTo identify food decision-making profiles for adults with T2DM and overweight/obesity based on nutritional health and decision process, and to explore differences in health outcomes among profiles.DesignCross-sectional.SettingPrimary healthcare settings.Subject105 adults with T2DM and overweight/obesity (90.52% retention).MeasuresNutritional health and decision process were assessed through the Food Choice Task, indicated by healthy decision rate and reaction time respectively. Health outcomes included clinical (HbA1C, fasting blood glucose, BMI) and psychological (diabetes management self-efficacy, food choice motives) measures.AnalysisHierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify profiles according to nutritional health and decision process. Welch's ANOVA were used to test their differences in health outcomes.ResultsFive profiles were identified: Cautious (healthy choice + slow reaction, 42.86%), Moderate (moderate healthy choice/reaction time, 28.57%), Well-Habit (healthy choice + fast reaction, 11.43%), Strained (unhealthy choice + slow reaction, 7.62%) and Impulsive (unhealthy choice + fast reaction, 9.52%). The Well-Habit Profile exhibited the best outcomes, including lower BMI, higher self-efficacy and healthier food choice motives. The Cautious Profile showed healthy choices but suboptimal self-efficacy. The Impulsive Profile presented a good self-efficacy, but the highest BMI and inadequate healthy choice motives.ConclusionThis study identified five food decision-making profiles for adults with T2DM and overweight/obesity, providing insights of considering both nutritional health and decision process as food choice features when conducting dietary interventions. Limitation included the small sample size and limited settings.

Objective: This commentary critically evaluates a recent scoping review on differences in COVID-19 vaccine intentions and uptake in the United States (U.S.) by gender or sex.Data Source: The reference articles in the scoping review titled "A Scoping Review on Gender/Sex Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions and Uptake in the United States" and other published articles on the subject.Study inclusion and exclusion criteria: Peer-reviewed articles in the English language that studied COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the U.S. population and evaluated sex/gender differences in vaccination were included. Studies that only assessed COVID-19 vaccine intentions in the U.S. population were excluded.Data extraction: Not applicable to this study.Data synthesis: Not applicable to this study.Results: The commentary findings on gender/sex differences are drawn from limited evidence, many with particular subpopulations (e.g., healthcare workers and military personnel) and an unbalanced gender/sex mix. Additionally, several studies use data from small surveys. By contrast, analyses using immunization registry data and large nationally representative surveys consistently find a higher COVID-19 vaccine uptake among women than men overall and in most age groups.Conclusion: This commentary argues for the inclusion of higher-quality, population-representative data sources within reviews to illustrate gender/sex differences in vaccine coverage more accurately.

Each year the editorial team of the American Journal of Health Promotion selects our "Best of the Year List" of health promotion studies from the prior year. This editorial features the Editor's Picks Award, the Editor in Chief Award, the Michael P. O'Donnell Award and the Dorothy Nyswander Award for the best research and writing published in 2025 in this journal. Our criteria for selection includes: whether the study addresses a topic of timely importance in health promotion, the research question is clearly stated and the study methods are well executed; whether the paper is often cited and downloaded; if the study findings offer a unique contribution to the literature; and if the paper is well-written and engaging. Awardees in 2025 offered new insights into health literacy, gun violence, social determinants and youth fitness, the effectiveness of health coaching in weight management and factors that affect access to GLP-1's. This "best of 2025 list" featured studies based in health systems, workplaces and communities and includes case studies and qualitative and quantitative research methods that enable researchers to better explain what amplifies or hampers well-being.

Healthcare is among the fastest growing sectors utilizing artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, quality and accessibility to services. In particular, the role bots can play in creating greater access and scalability in mental health services is attracting growing investment along with greater scrutiny. This editorial explores the promises and pitfalls of using artificial intelligence to train chatbots to conduct health coaching services. Although bots can use relevant psychological principles to help with mental health issues, they do not have lived experience. Can age-old philosophical debates help to inform the way health coaching bots are trained and prompted?

PurposeMental health stigma and social isolation remain major barriers to well-being in low-resource settings. This study examined the effectiveness of a 6-week community-based storytelling intervention in improving emotional relief, perceived social support, and interpersonal trust among adults in Northern Ghana.DesignMixed-methods evaluation.SettingFive community centres across the Northern Region and virtual sessions on conferenced phone call.ParticipantsFive hundred (500) adults (18+ years) selected through stratified random sampling completed pre and post-intervention surveys. A subsample of 32 participants, 6 community elders and 4 individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges participated in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. In total, 42 informants participated in the qualitative phase of the study.InterventionStructured storytelling sessions delivered twice per week for 6 weeks (12 sessions total). Each session lasted 60-90 minutes and was facilitated by trained community mental health officers and local storytellers.MeasuresEmotional relief, perceived social support, and trust were measured using adapted items from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and the Social Connectedness Scale. Socioeconomic status was assessed using education, occupation and household assets. All scales demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78 - 0.86).AnalysisNormality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, supporting the use of paired-sample t-test. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative narratives.ResultsReports of emotional relief increased from 20% to 70% (t = 6.89, P < 0.001), perceived social support rose from 30% to 80% (t = 5.72, P < 0.001), and trust in sharing personal experiences increased from 25% to 65% (t = 5.21, P < .001). Qualitative findings reinforced these results, revealing themes of reduced stigma, strengthened belonging, and renewed resilience.ConclusionStorytelling is a low-cost, culturally grounded, community-driven intervention for promoting mental health. Integration into public health campaigns, digital platforms, and community leadership structures may expand impact. Future research should incorporate a control group and assess long-term outcomes.

PurposeThis study aimed to explore the association of total multidimensional activity participation and different types of activity on sleep health.DesignCohort study.SettingThe study used Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) sleep data collected from 2005 onward (2005-2018).SampleA total of 1038 older adults aged 60 and older.MeasuresMultidimensional activity participation was assessed across ten items. Sleep quality and sleep duration were assessed using a single item each. Sociodemographic variables were included as covariates.AnalysisWe used a generalized linear mixed effects model to analyze the relationship between total multidimensional activity participation, activity types, and sleep health.ResultsPhysical activities were positively correlated with sleep quality (β = .010, P < .01). Moreover, cognitive activities were negatively correlated with short sleep duration (OR = .973, P < .05). In sleep quality, males (β = .224, P < .001), urban/town areas (β = .126, P < .01), high quality of life (β = .081, P < .01), health (β = .100, P < .001), and mental health (β = .014, P < .01) protected factors, while having heart disease (β = -.248, P < .001) was a risk factor. Regarding short sleep duration, urban/town areas (OR = .761, P < .01) and high health (OR = .808, P < .001) were negatively correlated with it. Heart disease (OR = 1.589, P < .01) was positively correlated with short sleep duration.ConclusionIt is necessary to consider the role of multidimensional characteristics in promoting sleep health and active aging.