Sammendrag
NaCuHeal-meeting-places (NCH-mp) appear to have a very advantageous cost-benefit profile. An evidence-based practice of medicine is the ideal in clinical medicine as well as in questions of public health. The aim for this student-assignment was to consider if NCH-mp is based enough on evidence to be recommended as a method to promote public health.
The term ”evidence based” was used as defined by Sicily Statement of Evidence Based Practice, which includes healthcare providers explicit (research) and implicit (experience) knowledge, receivers preferences and context.
NCH-mp is a complex intervention and no real effect-trials have been preformed on it. This assignment was limited to research and receivers’ preferences. Research literature was sought for one component of NCH-mp; social support.
9 studies were included. 4 showed a clear and 4 a partly association between social support and positive health parameters. Peoples understanding of health includes elements provided at NCH-mp. Health promotion and uneven social distribution of health-factors are central goals in politics on all levels.
NCH-mp seems to provide a practical tool to implement the political intentions regarding public health. There are challenges connected to studying true effects of health promotion in general, and NCH-mp in particular, because there is no registration of participants and it is not a standardized intervention. However, it seems reasonable to suggest that NCH-mp has sufficient evidence to be recommended as a means to promote the population health. More studies are needed. With the establishing of new NCH-mp, research-evaluations should be done along the way.