Development of a Community-based Participatory Global Health Project Model for Primary Health Care Capacity Development: A Case Study from a Rural Community in Ecuador

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to identify successful strategies and propose a community-based participatory global health project model for primary health care capacity development. METHODS: The study used case study methodology. A unit of analysis was an international cooperation health project entitled "Community-based Primary Health Care Improvement in San Lorenzo, Ecuador" using community-based participatory research conducted in 2007~2008. Data were collected through windshield surveys, focus group discussion, and provider surveys. RESULTS: Identified successful strategies for the international cooperation health project were reciprocal partnerships between researchers and community, partners' capacity building, south-to-south cooperation, and continuous monitoring and feedback. Community participation was found to be an essential tenet to guarantee the improvement of primary health care in the underserved rural community. Evidence from the activities of community health practitioners in Korea was applicable to the development of training programs for primary health care providers in Ecuador. CONCLUSION: Strategies for primary health care capacity development may be tailored depending on socio-cultural, political, and economical situations of each country. The model, however, would be applicable to the entire process of community-based global health projects in underserved rural communities of other countries.

An Evaluation Study of Hypertension Information Providing Web Sites on the Internet / 대한의료정보학회지

This research was conducted to analyze websites that provide hypertension information in Korea and to provide a proper model for developing sites that give information about hypertension to educate Korean people on promoting their health. Quantitative analysis of the 168 websites, which are categorized as health institutions in popular search engines, and qualitative analysis for the 16 websites that provide hypertension information were carried out. Only 27% of the university hospitals/tertiary hospital websites provided hypertension related information, and most of them provided only a single page of hypertension related information. Among 16 hypertension information-providing websites, 75% have a bulletin board to receive user's opinions and requests, however, 50% was not responsive, and therefore, interactivity is not guaranteed. Most of the websites do not provide information sources and did not employ full multimedia capabilities. Only 50% of the websites provided the last updated time. Websites providing professional hypertension information must be developed to educate the Korean public about measures they can take to promote general health level.

Development of Database System for Community Based Home Care in Health Center / 대한의료정보학회지

The purpose of this study was to develop a database system for visiting nurses working in a community health center. The final goal of the system is for it to be used as a nationwide database-collecting tool over the Internet for community health services. Three unique systems were developed and trialed. The first system focused on the data warehousing technology as a research centered system for a theory based database construction. The second system was a local system, which has already been utilized in a proactive health center, and had the system interface revised according to the newly developed standardized framework of the service. The third system was part of the integrated community health information system, which had the goal of general dissemination. It is clear that these systems reflect the unique characteristics and goals of the test sites, and should be supported for the Systems Life Cycle to survive. The authors plan to move to the next stage of developing an integrated nationwide health information system for community health services.

Development of Database System for Community Based Home Care in Health Center / 대한의료정보학회지

The purpose of this study was to develop a database system for visiting nurses working in a community health center. The final goal of the system is for it to be used as a nationwide database-collecting tool over the Internet for community health services. Three unique systems were developed and trialed. The first system focused on the data warehousing technology as a research centered system for a theory based database construction. The second system was a local system, which has already been utilized in a proactive health center, and had the system interface revised according to the newly developed standardized framework of the service. The third system was part of the integrated community health information system, which had the goal of general dissemination. It is clear that these systems reflect the unique characteristics and goals of the test sites, and should be supported for the Systems Life Cycle to survive. The authors plan to move to the next stage of developing an integrated nationwide health information system for community health services.