Health promotion – role of the healthcare specialist

Information for nursing staff, 2022, 55(2), 26-36.

Z. Nikolova, M. Vladimirova, D. Ruschukova

Department of midwifery care, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Plovdiv

Abstract. Health can be defined as a state of optimal physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual well-being. Health promotion is an important and effective tool for affirming and improving public health. Ideas of health promotion are old, but they have gained actuality in recent years. The Specialist of Health Care has an essential role in health promotion activities. In order to establish an understanding of the role of future professionals for health promotion and improving public health, we conducted a survey. A direct anonymous survey was conducted among 307 students and trainees of the Medical University – Plovdiv and the Medical College at Medical University – Plovdiv – Midwife, Nurse, X-ray Laboratory Technician, Dietetics Instructor, Public Health Inspector, Physiotherapist and Assistant Pharmacist. Most students consider the Health Care professional to be a key factor in successful health promotion and public health improvement. The most important competencies for success in these activities are communicative, cognitive and organizational. About half of the respondents express the opinion that they feel somewhat prepared for health promotion activities. Most students do not use additional specialized literature for skill formation. Slightly more than half of the respondents know that there are additional specialized programs/courses for the development of pedagogical skills, but very few have participated in them. Almost all respondents emphasize the power of positive speech and the importance of healthy habits in their messages to patients.

Key words: health promotion, healthy habits, health care specialist/role

Address for correspondence: Zlatina Nikolova, e-mail: zlati.i.nikolova@gmail.com