healthscotland.com

Devising methods to assess training needs of health promoters in Scottish area health boards

Summary

1. Criteria for estimating the effectiveness of TNA should be based on functionality or the impact of the subsequent training on achievement of workplace goals.
2. The health promotion specialist teams employed by the Scottish Health Boards are not therefore in a position to carry out full scale TNA on an appraisal basis in the various professional services where health promoters work.
3. They should work in association with staff development teams in professional settings to analyse and act upon information from departments' general TNA which has a bearing on the health promotion opportunities which professionals and voluntary workers may have.
4. The most important area of unmet training need across the occupational groups in the research is that of appreciating the concept of health promotion.
5. Health promotion teams are well placed to lead focus groups or other dialogue processes involving trainers, trainees and clients to seek shared meanings of health promotion and related concepts.
6. The HEBS network of Health Promotion Officers should be used as a starting point for expanding training for health promoters.
7. The MacMillan Profile, with its emphasis on self review, should be adapted and developed by Health Promotion Officers to suit the different contexts of health promoters in Scotland.
8. The theme of meeting client needs provides a powerful motivation for health promotion staff when combined with appropriate training.
9. Courses in health promotion should be integrated into the SCOTCAT framework with the aim of creating a national structure for all health promotion courses.
10. The emphasis on "experiential learning" being developed in some SCOTCAT courses would be an effective way of delivering health promotion courses.
11. As much use as possible should be made of health targets for the population locally and nationally in negotiations between Health Promotion Departments and organisations responsible for health promotion.
12. Research in health promotion with external funding should be maximised in different areas of Scotland. The resulting health promotion initiatives provide the knowledge and enthusiasm for the spread of good practice in health promotion.