Health equity in urban and rural settings: implementation of the place standard tool in Spain.

The physical, social, and economic characteristics of neighborhoods and municipalities determine the health of their residents, shaping their behaviors and choices regarding health and well-being. Addressing local environmental inequalities requires an intersectoral, participatory, and equity-focused approach. Community participation plays a vital role by providing deeper insights into local contexts, integrating community knowledge and values into processes, and promoting healthier, fairer, and more equitable actions. In recent years, various tools have been developed to assess places and transform them into health-promoting settings. One such tool, the Place Standard Tool (PST), facilitates discussions on Social Determinants of Health grouped into 14 themes, serving as a starting point for local health interventions. In this study, that took place between August 2019 and February 2020, we described the resident's perceptions of two municipalities in the Valencian Community, Spain, using the validated Spanish version of the PST. A mixed-method convergent-parallel design was used to gain a holistic insight into residents' experiences concerning their physical, economic, and social environment. A total of 356 individuals from both municipalities participated in the study through discussion groups, structured interviews, and online survey. Descriptive analysis of the individual questionnaire answers was conducted, and differences between municipalities were explored. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on structured interviews and discussion groups. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated to facilitate their comparison and identify areas of convergence or divergence in the findings. Overall, rural areas received more favorable evaluations compared to urban ones. Public Transport as well as Work and Local Economy were consistently rated the lowest across all groups and contexts, while Identity and Belonging received the highest ratings. In the urban area, additional negative ratings were observed for Traffic and Parking, Housing and Community, and Care and Maintenance. Conversely, Identity and Belonging, Natural Spaces, Streets and Spaces, Social Interaction, and Services emerged as the highest-rated themes overall. In the rural context, positive evaluations were given to Walking or Cycling, Traffic and Parking, Housing and Community, and Influence and Sense of Control. Significant differences (p < 0.01) between urban and rural settings were observed in dimensions related to mobility, spaces, housing, social interaction, and identity and belonging. Our study illustrated the capacity of the PST to identifying aspects within local settings that influence health, revealing both positive and challenging factors. Successful implementation requires appropriate territorial delineation, support from local authorities, and effective management of expectations. Furthermore, the tool facilitated community participation in decision-making about local environments, promoting equity by connecting institutional processes with citizen needs.

Herramienta Entornos de Vida: innovación en el análisis participativo de salud con enfoque de equidad / Entornos de Vida tool: innovation in participatory health analysis with an equity approach

Los gobiernos municipales tienen capacidad para abordar los determinantes sociales de la salud que actúan sobre sus territorios. La estrategia de acción local en red de la Comunitat Valenciana promueve un abordaje intersectorial, participativo y con enfoque de equidad de las desigualdades en salud resultantes de la distribución de estos determinantes en los barrios y municipios. Para orientar la acción local en salud se requieren metodologías que recojan los conocimientos y las experiencias de la comunidad, y que favorezcan su participación en todas las etapas de la acción. Esta nota metodológica expone cómo llevar a cabo el proceso de evaluación de un territorio aplicando la herramienta Entornos de Vida. Este instrumento permite analizar los barrios y municipios identificando de forma específica y operativa cómo sus características impactan en la salud y en el bienestar de las personas que los habitan.(AU)

Municipal governments have the capacity to tackle the social determinants of health that play a role in their territories. The Valencian Community's local health action strategy promotes an intersectoral, participatory and equity-oriented approach to health inequalities affecting neighborhoods and municipalities across the region. To guide local health action, there is a need to adopt methodologies that capture community-based knowledge and experiences, encouraging community engagement at all stages. This article presents a methodology to carry out a local health needs assessment applying the Entornos de Vida tool. This tool enables the analysis of neighborhoods and municipalities through identifying how their characteristics have an impact on the health and well-being of their inhabitants. (AU)

[Entornos de Vida tool: innovation in participatory health analysis with an equity approach]. / Herramienta Entornos de Vida: innovación en el análisis participativo de salud con enfoque de equidad.

Municipal governments have the capacity to tackle the social determinants of health that play a role in their territories. The Valencian Community's local health action strategy promotes an intersectoral, participatory and equity-oriented approach to health inequalities affecting neighborhoods and municipalities across the region. To guide local health action, there is a need to adopt methodologies that capture community-based knowledge and experiences, encouraging community engagement at all stages. This article presents a methodology to carry out a local health needs assessment applying the Entornos de Vida tool. This tool enables the analysis of neighborhoods and municipalities through identifying how their characteristics have an impact on the health and well-being of their inhabitants.

Evaluación participativa del territorio con enfoque de equidad: adaptación y validación de la Place Standard al contexto español / Participatory evaluation in place-based communities: adaptating and validating the Place Standard tool to Spanish context

Objetivo: Traducir, adaptar culturalmente y validar al español la herramienta Place Standard, un instrumento para la evaluación participativa de los entornos en el ámbito local. Método: Se utilizó el método de traducción-retrotraducción para obtener una versión adaptada del instrumento original Place Standard. La versión traducida fue consolidada por un comité multidisciplinario de personas expertas y se validó mediante técnica Delphi. Resultados: Se obtuvo el instrumento Entornos de Vida, compuesto por 14 dimensiones y 99 ítems. El 21% de los ítems presentó dificultad semántica de traducción. En el panel de personas expertas se obtuvo consenso total en el 72% de los ítems. El análisis temático produjo ajustes de redacción, enfoque y organización de los ítems, y la clarificación y la inclusión de nuevas preguntas y reformulaciones adaptadas al contexto español. Conclusiones: La validación del instrumento Entornos de Vida permitirá evaluar los territorios de manera participativa, equitativa y enfocada en los determinantes sociales de la salud. Su aplicación en escenarios que cuenten con procesos de acción local en salud favorecerá la práctica metodológica en promoción de la salud y equidad. Situar la mirada y la acción en los contextos físicos y socioeconómicos ayudará a conocer cómo afectan el territorio y las políticas municipales a la salud y el bienestar. (AU)

Objective: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation to the Spanish context of the Place Standard tool to undertake participatory evaluations in place-based communities. Method: A back-translation method was used to obtain an adapted version of the original Place Standard tool. The translated version was reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee of experts and validated using the Delphi method. Results: The final version of the adapted Place Standards tool (Entornos de Vida in Spanish) consists of 14 dimensions and 99 items. 21% of the items presented semantic difficulties during the translation. Total consensus through the Delphi panel was reached on 72% of the items. The analysis resulted in changes to the wording, and organization of the items, and the inclusion of new or modified questions to reflect the characteristics of the Spanish context. Conclusions: The validation of the Entornos de Vida tool will enable the evaluation of place-based communities characteristics/physical and socio-economic contexts in a participatory and equitable manner that focuses on social determinants of health. Its application in scenarios that take into account processes of local health action will support the practice of health promotion and equity, and centre the attention and action on the physical and socio-economic contexts with the aim to learn how places and municipal policies can affect health and well-being. (AU)

Atención Primaria y redes comunitarias en tiempos COVID-19: una aproximación a lo que está pasando y qué podemos hacer / Primary care and community partnerships during the COVID19 pandemic: an approach to what has been done so far and ways to improve it

Objetivo. Identificar las redes y acciones comunitarias realizadas en la Comunidad Valenciana durante la situación de la pandemia por COVID-19 y describir las fortalezas y amenazas para el desarrollo de la salud comunitaria. Diseño. Estudio cuantitativo descriptivo y cualitativo, incluyendo un cuestionario remitido por correo y análisis DAFO. Emplazamiento. Equipos de Atención Primaria (EAP) de la Comunidad Valenciana. Participantes y contexto. El ámbito de estudio son los miembros de la Societat Valenciana de Medicina Familiar i Comunitària (SoVaMFiC). Método. 1) Constitución de un grupo de trabajo; 2) diseño de un cuestionario ad hoc para la identificación de redes comunitarias, acciones o iniciativas durante la pandemia por COVID-19, y de aspectos positivos y negativos del impacto de la pandemia sobre la salud comunitaria; 3) envío del cuestionario a través de correo electrónico; 4) análisis DAFO, y 5) elaboración de recomendaciones. Resultados. Se obtuvieron un total de 56 respuestas (3,3% de participación) identificándose 32 acciones o redes comunitarias de las cuales, 19 existían previamente a la crisis de la COVID-19. Se realizó un análisis DAFO y se identificaron 6 debilidades, 9 amenazas, 5 fortalezas y 8 oportunidades. Este análisis permitió la elaboración de un decálogo de recomendaciones para promover la atención comunitaria en tiempos de la COVID-19. Conclusiones. Las acciones y redes comunitarias surgidas durante la pandemia tienen como objetivo principal responder a las necesidades que han ido apareciendo. Los EAP han participado poco en estas iniciativas. (AU)

Objective: To identify community partnerships, actions or initiatives carried out in the Valencian Community during the Covid19 pandemic and to describe the strengths and challenges to supporting community health during this situation. Design: Mixed method study using survey with closed and open-ended questions and SWOT analysis. Setting: Primary Health are teams of the Valencian Community. Participants and context: Members of the Valencian Society of Family and Community Medicine (SoVaMFiC). Method: (1) Development of a working group. (2) Design of an ad hoc questionnaire to identify community partnerships, actions or initiatives during the Covid19 pandemic, and positive and negative aspects of the impact of the pandemic on community health. (3) Launch of the questionnaire via email; (4) SWOT analysis and (5) development of recommendations. Results: A total of 56 responses were obtained (3.3% response rate), identifying 32 actions or community networks, of which 19 existed prior to the Covid19 crisis. A SWOT analysis was carried out, and six weaknesses, nine threats, five strengths and eight opportunities were identified. This analysis informed the development of a set of 10 recommendations for community care in the time of Covid19. Conclusions: The community partnerships, actions or initiatives developed during the pandemic have the main objective of responding to the needs that have been emerging. The Primary Health Care teams have shown limited engagement in these initiatives. (AU)

[Participatory evaluation in place-based communities: adaptating and validating the Place Standard tool to Spanish context]. / Evaluación participativa del territorio con enfoque de equidad: adaptación y validación de la Place Standard al contexto español.

OBJECTIVE: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation to the Spanish context of the Place Standard tool to undertake participatory evaluations in place-based communities. METHOD: A back-translation method was used to obtain an adapted version of the original Place Standard tool. The translated version was reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee of experts and validated using the Delphi method. RESULTS: The final version of the adapted Place Standards tool (Entornos de Vida in Spanish) consists of 14 dimensions and 99 items. 21% of the items presented semantic difficulties during the translation. Total consensus through the Delphi panel was reached on 72% of the items. The analysis resulted in changes to the wording, and organization of the items, and the inclusion of new or modified questions to reflect the characteristics of the Spanish context. CONCLUSIONS: The validation of the Entornos de Vida tool will enable the evaluation of place-based communities characteristics/physical and socio-economic contexts in a participatory and equitable manner that focuses on social determinants of health. Its application in scenarios that take into account processes of local health action will support the practice of health promotion and equity, and centre the attention and action on the physical and socio-economic contexts with the aim to learn how places and municipal policies can affect health and well-being.

Relationship between Determinants of Health, Equity, and Dimensions of Health Literacy in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Health literacy (HL) has been linked to empowerment, use of health services, and equity. Evaluating HL in people with cardiovascular health problems would facilitate the development of suitable health strategies care and reduce inequity. Aim: To investigate the relationship between different dimensions that make up HL and social determinants in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study in patients with cardiovascular disease, aged 50-85 years, accessing primary care services in Valencia (Spain) in 2018-2019. The Health Literacy Questionnaire was used. Results: 252 patients. Age was significantly related with the ability to participate with healthcare providers (p = 0.043), ability to find information (p = 0.022), and understanding information correctly to know what to do (p = 0.046). Level of education was significant for all HL dimensions. Patients without studies scored lower in all dimensions. The low- versus middle-class social relationship showed significant results in all dimensions. Conclusions: In patients with cardiovascular disease, level of education and social class were social determinants associated with HL scores. Whilst interventions at individual level might address some HL deficits, inequities in access to cardiovascular care and health outcomes would remain unjustly balanced unless structural determinants of HL are taken into account.