Health Promotion Capacity Among Chinese Healthcare Professionals and Its Influence on Preventive Health Service Practices

Abstract

Background

This study evaluated the current health promotion capacity level of Chinese healthcare professionals and explored the association between health promotion capacity and preventive health service practices.

Methods

A total of 124 doctors and 72 nurses were recruited from 6 county hospitals and 12 community health centers from June to August 2019 in Zhejiang Province, China. Health promotion capacity was measured using the revised Chinese version of the Health Promotion Professionals Core Competency Scale.

Results

The mean total score on the health promotion capacity scale was 45.04 (SD = 7.30). Total health promotion capacity score was negatively associated with county hospitals (β = −0.32, p < 0.001; Ref: community health center) and positively associated with a monthly income of more than 5001 RMB ($786.39) (β = 0.25, p = 0.004; Ref: less than 5000 RMB ($786.24)). All domain scores of the health promotion capacity scale were positively related to preventive health service practices.

Conclusion

Health promotion capacity is one of the most important capacities among healthcare professionals, and there is a particular need to improve nurses’ capacity. A higher level of health promotion capacity is beneficial for implementing preventive health services.

Keywords:

• healthcare professionals
• health promotion
• primary care
• capacity

Data Sharing Statement

Data can be requested from the corresponding author. All materials used for the purpose of this study are available on the request of the corresponding author.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was approved by the ethics board of Hangzhou Normal University (No. 2019065). Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Acknowledgments

We thank the help of doctors and nurses from the six counties hospitals and 12 community health centers of Hangzhou, Deqing, Yuhuan cities, and all the research staffs during the surveys.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Zhejiang Province Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (No:22NDJC135YB) and Zhejiang College Students’ Science and Technology Innovation Program (Xin-Miao Talent Plan) (No:2021R426069).