Subjective Health Status, Health-Related Behavior, and Health Literacy of Health Professional Students: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

The importance of health promotion for health professional students is increasingly crucial, as the rising requirements for those students can have a negative impact on their health. Despite this awareness, there is still limited knowledge in Germany about the specific health needs of this group of students. This study's aim was, therefore, to assess the subjective health of first-year students and to identify health needs. Thus, this study is based on an online survey using standardized measurement instruments. First-year students from three degree programs were included. The data were analyzed descriptively. A total of n = 98 (72.6%) participated in the survey. The results showed that a major proportion of participants (80.3%) rated their health positively, but a significant proportion reported weight disorders (24%) and pre-existing health conditions (62.1%) at baseline. Interestingly, a high proportion (59%) reported a high level of mental well-being at the time of the survey. However, worrying findings regarding lifestyle behaviors, including physical inactivity (40.6%), smoking (20%), risky alcohol use (24%), and unhealthy eating habits (37%) were determined. In terms of health literacy, around 45% of students rated their health competencies as problematic. Furthermore, it was found that students with low health literacy had a significantly higher prevalence of low mental well-being (53.3% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.036) and unhealthy eating habits (48.8% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.027) compared to students with sufficient health literacy. Health professional students should be considered a relevant target group for health and health competence promotion from the beginning of their studies. The identified fields of action should be addressed in the context of health promotion. This is of particular importance as they are not only aimed at improving the students' well-being but also will later work directly with patients and, therefore, have a direct influence on the health of others.

Health of (dual) health professional students in German-speaking countries: a scoping review.

University education marks a new stage in life, which is associated with unknown demands and challenges and can have a negative impact on students' health. Therefore, health promotion in the university setting is becoming increasingly important. In this context, scientific data on the health situation play a crucial role in improving students' health. Thus, the aim of the scoping review was to highlight the current scope of research on the health of health professional students. It also explored problems and outlined key future challenges and solutions. The review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for a scoping review. A total of nine databases (PubMed, CINAHL, CareLit, LIVIVO, Scopus, Psyndex, PEDro, OTseeker, Google Scholar) were systematically searched. The following search criteria were defined: health professional students, health, Germany, German-speaking countries, all types of sources from 2012 to present are selected. The research studies were mapped in a table and health evidence of included studies was summarized narratively. The initial search resulted in 23,938 records. Seven records met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Six cross-sectional studies were conducted in Germany, and one cross-sectional study was conducted in Switzerland. In fact, one study included a representative population. Qualitative studies were not found. The most studies investigated health status, health behavior, and personal resources. Most of the studies examined female nursing students. The included studies indicated that the young students reported physical or mental health conditions. In addition, the studies also identified health resources of the students that need to be improved. In summary, there is currently limited health evidence on this group of students in German-speaking countries. Therefore, further research is needed to generate knowledge and comprehensively describe the health situation.

Health Literacy in Adults with Chronic Diseases in the Context of Community Health Nursing: A Scoping Review.

Background: Health literacy was identified as a main determinant in self-care of chronic diseases. This results in responsibilities for health professionals for daily practice. For primary care setting, special requirements arise due to the heterogeneity of communities. The objective of this scoping review was to explore and map the scope of the research material on strategies led by community health nurses to improve health literacy in (patients with) chronic diseases. This review aimed to identify gaps in the literature and existing approaches on promoting health literacy by community nurse practitioners. Methods: The following criteria were included for the research: Adults with chronic diseases, health literacy, community health nursing and primary healthcare. All types of searches for studies from 1970 to present were carried out in electronic databases and in a Google and a Google Scholar search. The search procedure is presented in a flow chart. Results: From all reviewed studies, nine records were included in the review. Findings with regard to the increase in health literacy in self-management of chronically ill patients were identified. Conclusion: Studies focusing on specific demands with regard to the role of community health nurses need to be carried out in depth.

A Care Concept of Community Health Nursing Interventions for Adults With Chronic Health Conditions in an Urban Area: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Field Trial (CoSta Study).

BACKGROUND: Implementing community health nursing programs is a new field of application in the primary health sector of Germany. Hence, there is limited evidence of effective community-based and nurse-led interventions with regard to the German health care system. International research findings are mostly not transferable. The Community Health Nursing in der Stadt (CoSta; ie, "Community Health Nursing in the City") project is the first study that examines a community health nurse-led intervention for adults with chronic health conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study protocol describes the design and methods of a randomized controlled field trial that will investigate if a community health nurse-based intervention has an impact on health-related quality of life in adults with chronic conditions. METHODS: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial that will be conducted under real-life conditions in the field. In a 4-month period, patients with at least 1 chronic International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, diagnosis will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly allocated to an intervention group or a control group. The sample size was assumed based on an effect size of 0.50 with a significance level of .05, using a 2-sided (2-tailed), 2-sample unequal variance t test. The control group will be treated as usual. The intervention group will receive-in addition to the usual treatment-preventive home visits; consultations; and educative training, which will be offered by 2 community health nurses for up to 12 months. Both groups will be followed up at baseline, after 6 months, and after 12 months. The primary outcome measure is the mental component summary score from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey after 12-months. Secondary patient outcomes will be included. The study received ethics approval from the Competence Health Center's institutional review board at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (procedure number: 2020-14). RESULTS: The CoSta project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany (contract number: 13FH019SX8). In total, 187 participants were recruited at the beginning of August 2021. Further, 92 were excluded and 94 were randomized. Data collection will be conducted until the end of 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will provide data with regard to the effectiveness of community nurse-led interventions that focus on the treatment of vulnerable adults with chronic health conditions in a community health center. In secondary analyses, the associations among influencing social factors (education, income, and employment) will be examined. We expect results that will help reduce the research-to-practice gap. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00026164; https://tinyurl.com/yckxc5ut. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/37965.

[Community health nursing in urban setting (CoSta): Development of a care concept for people with chronic conditions in primary care]. / Community Health Nursing in der Stadt (CoSta).

Community health nursing in urban setting (CoSta): Development of a care concept for people with chronic conditions in primary care Abstract. Background: Community Health Nursing (CHN) is currently being discussed in German-speaking countries to implement nursing professionals in primary care. It comprises patient-oriented-, evidence-based and community care. Academic nurses provide care autonomously. In other countries, CHN has been established for many years. In Germany, there is a lack of model tests and evidence to evaluate the specific mode of action in application and to map reimbursement options of potential healthcare payers. Aim: The CoSta project is developing a professional CHN model concept for people with chronic conditions in a marginalized urban neighborhood. Methods: The practice development of the CHN care concept is based on a theoretical frame, a literature review and needs assessment in the neighborhood involving the multiprofessional team in a health center. Results: Concept modelling is completed. The model is based on the components public health, nursing theory, mission statement, legal framework, and evidence base. Interventions include nurse-led home visits, consultations, and trainings. Their effectiveness is currently being tested in an ongoing intervention study, and feasibility results are expected soon. Conclusions: The model-concept is assessed as a needs-based offer. For the intervention, cultural and peer sensitive aspects seem to be even more significant than expected.