Leefstijlinterventies in Nederland. Een verkenning van ervaringen en wensen

Abstract

In 2008, the Dutch Centre for Healthy Living consulted health professionals working at local level for information on their use, experience and wishes regarding health promotion interventions and methods. The professionals were from the Local Health Services (GGD), the Basic Home Care Services, the Mental Health Service (GGZ) and local authorities. The various health themes considered important by professionals working at the local level are not always targeted through the applied interventions or policy. The reason for this may be due to an inadequate national provision of services addressing problems associated with social-economic differences or vulnerable groups (lowly educated, the elderly, foreigners) or because legislatively, these areas are not seen as policy spearheads. Most interventions offered fall within the category of the national priorities and the theme of sexuality and relationships. Local organisations have indicated that they prefer to use existing interventions and their accompanying products. In reality, however, local organisations find it difficult to use these products in real situations. The reason for this is that the supply is not always suited to the specific local circumstances. There is a need to collect all the information concerning the available interventions (including certification) centrally. It is also desirable to have local health policy guidelines available in the same way. An effective and efficient approach to health promotion requires good mutual agreements between the various national and local parties. Good communication and planning on the part of the national Health Promotion Institutes are an important condition to promote efficiency in the development and provision of products such as interventions and guidelines. In addition, the fact that national Health Promotion Institutes directly approach local intermediaries such as schools and local authorities on the use of their products, has been experienced as a great stumbling block by Local Health Services. In the near future, the Centre for Healthy Living will involve local professionals more and more in identifying and defining health promotion issues in local communities. This will facilitate improving the link between supply and demand.