'Surrounding yourself with beauty': exploring the health promotion potential of a rural garden appreciation group.

Gardening has the potential to enhance health and well-being, through increased physical activity and social connectedness. However, while much is known about the benefits of garden activities, less is known about the potential health implications of more passive forms of engagement with gardens, for example, viewing gardens. In addition, much garden research is undertaken in urban settings, leaving little known about potential health impacts for rural populations. The present study explored these research gaps by gaining an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of members of a gardening appreciation group in rural Australia: The Colac Horticultural and Marvellous Property Appreciation Society (CHAMPAS). A phenomenological, qualitative methodology was applied, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. Eleven participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling and the data were analysed by applying interpretive, reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes and supporting sub-themes were generated. The four main themes were: (i) motivations for maintaining participation in CHAMPAS; (ii) social connections and friendships, formed from membership; (iii) sense of community and structure of CHAMPAS and (iv) the perceived health and well-being benefits of continued involvement in this group. This study found that members perceived health and well-being benefits stemmed from CHAMPAS facilitation of social connectedness, function as a community group and a way for members to share a love for home gardening. This study provides insights into the perceived and potential health-promoting effects of garden appreciation groups for rural populations.

There are many health and well-being benefits of gardening. However, research is predominantly focused on the active practice of gardening in urban environments, and little is known about the passive activity of garden appreciation, nor about the benefits of this activity in rural areas. This paper explores the health promotion potential of garden appreciation groups through the experiences of members of a rural group called CHAMPAS. Eleven members of CHAMPAS were asked to talk about what kept them attending, and what health and well-being benefits the group provided them. The study found that CHAMPAS benefits stemmed from its function as a social group and a way for members to share a love for home gardening. The findings suggest that garden appreciation groups potentially provide health promotion benefits for people in rural areas. A recommendation of this paper is to undertake further research to map and analyse these benefits across rural Australia.

Health empowerment scripts: Simplifying social/green prescriptions.

Social prescriptions are one term commonly used to describe non-pharmaceutical approaches to healthcare and are gaining popularity in the community, with evidence highlighting psychological benefits of reduced anxiety, depression and improved mood and physiological benefits of reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced hypertension. The relationship between human health benefits and planetary health benefits is also noted. There are, however, numerous barriers, such as duration and frequencies to participate in activities, access, suitability, volition and a range of unpredictable variables (such as inclement weather, shifting interests and relocating home amongst others) impeding a comprehensive approach to their use on a wider scale. From a multidisciplinary perspective, this commentary incorporates a salutogenic and nature-based approach to health, we also provide a range of recommendations that can be undertaken at the patient level to assist in shifting the acknowledged systemic barriers currently occurring. These include using simple language to explain the purpose of health empowerment scripts, ensuing personal commitment to a minimum timeframe, enabling ease of access, co-designing a script program, providing ongoing motivational support and incorporating mindfulness to counter unexpected disruptions.

Addressing food insecurity in Australia through education for sustainability.

Within Australia food insecurity affects an estimated 4 million people annually. Health promotion degrees traditionally prepare pre-service graduates to address food insecurity from a social determinants perspective, little consideration of integrating ecological determinants, however, has been noted. This is a significant problem considering unprecedented environmental challenges facing future food production. Education for sustainability (EfS) is purported to develop graduates who can respond to significant sustainability issues in the 21st century. This study examined the potential for health promotion degrees to utilize EfS to address food insecurity through an ecological lens. The study also illustrates why it might be valuable for academics to use such an approach. Semi-structured interviews with 15 Australian health and sustainability academics and document analysis of 26 associated teaching units was undertaken. Thematic analysis informed the data analysis process to provide meaning and insight into emerging themes. Academics were unaware of EfS or its potential for developing ecologically literate graduates. A lack of university commitment towards sustainability and knowledge and skills to implement EfS were identified as potential barriers. Academics, however, were ascribing to the central tenets used in EfS such as interdisciplinary thinking and reflective practice, demonstrating its potential use in health promotion. EfS, as a framework for incorporating an ecological perspective into health promotion degrees has not been fully realized. This study suggests capacity building of academics with regard to the use of EfS as an approach within health promotion degrees to address significant sustainability issues in the 21st century, such as food insecurity.

Health promotion and food insecurity: Exploring environmental sustainability principles to guide practice within Australia.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The Australian health promotion sector has made significant advances in food security over the years through recognition of social and economic factors. The incorporation of ecological determinants within health promotion practice to address food insecurity, however, is uncommon. This paper explores the potential of health promotion to use environmental sustainability principles to guide the development of health promotion food security programs in Australia. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach guided by a pragmatic framework was adopted for this study. A national online survey (n = 61) and semi-structured interviews (n = 16) targeting Australian health promotion practitioners was utilised. Triangulation involved seven stages to develop points of convergence and corroboration of the data. RESULTS: Practitioners were adopting principles of environmental sustainability such as ecological integrity and biodiversity protection to guide food security practice. The use of such principles demonstrates their compatibility within health promotion practice. This study, however, reveals that environmental sustainability principles were a relatively new area of practice for health promotion practitioners. CONCLUSION: The possibilities for integrating health promotion and environmental sustainability principles are promising for addressing multifaceted issues inherent within food security practice. At present, a lack of principles exist for guiding the sector to address food security that is cognisant of both human health and the environment. SO WHAT?: This study indicates a lack of integration between environmental sustainability and health promotion principles to guide food security practice. It would be pertinent for the sector to consider the development of a set of principles that considers both health promotion and environmental sustainability to ensure future food security and planetary health. Capacity building of current practitioners and pre-service graduates around the use of such principles to guide practice could assist the sector in this process.

New frontiers in community initiatives to increase vegetable consumption.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Public health concerns about insufficient consumption of vegetables across all demographics in Australia have led to 20 years of behaviour change interventions ranging from social marketing to interactive small group programs, with modest results. To maximise health promotion intervention outcomes, practitioners need up-to-date information that helps them navigate the complexity of food systems and eating behaviours. METHODS: This scoping review of Australian and international research, including peer-reviewed and grey literature, provides a picture of health promotion nutrition interventions, as well as other initiatives that may promote increased vegetable consumption. Search terms related to nutrition and vegetable consumption, type of intervention or initiative, for example, campaign; and consumer values and behaviour. A wide range of data sources were used including scholarly papers, market research reports and publicly available websites of community organisations (eg, OOOOBY). A broad food systems typology was developed to provide a framework for the review. RESULTS: The review finds an emerging group of community-driven initiatives within local food systems that appear to have positive impacts on vegetable consumption. These initiatives sit within a multi-faceted approach to health and well-being that is consistent with the tenets of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, including community engagement, social justice and sustainability goals. CONCLUSIONS: More research into the impact of these new frontiers is needed, but our preliminary findings point to the potential for health promotion practitioners to collaborate on local/community food system initiatives that are not motivated primarily by health goals, but have the potential to deliver multiple health and environmental outcomes. SO WHAT?: This review demonstrated community-driven initiatives around local food systems show the most promise in promoting vegetable consumption and addressing the determinants of health. Health promotion efforts to encourage food security and healthy eating could be strengthened through collaborations within these new frontiers.

Health promotion and climate change: exploring the core competencies required for action.

Climate change poses serious threats to human health and well-being. It exacerbates existing health inequities, impacts on the social determinants of health and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. In the Australian region these include remote Aboriginal communities, Pacific Island countries and people with low incomes. Given health promotion's remit to protect and promote health, it should be well placed to respond to emerging climate-related health challenges. Yet, to date, there has been little evidence to demonstrate this. This paper draws on the findings of a qualitative study conducted in Victoria, Australia to highlight that; while there is clearly a role for health promotion in climate change mitigation and adaptation at the national and international levels, there is also a need for the engagement of health promoters at the community level. This raises several key issues for health promotion practice. To be better prepared to respond to climate change, health promotion practitioners first need to re-engage with the central tenets of the Ottawa Charter, namely the interconnectedness of humans and the natural environment and, secondly, the need to adopt ideas and frameworks from the sustainability field. The findings also open up a discussion for paradigmatic shifts in health promotion thinking and acting in the context of climate change.