As the young generations grow up using applications like Facebook and as fans of social networking technologies, understanding the presentations of self in a virtual community becomes a worthwhile topic to be addressed. Drawing on the theory of dramaturgical theory (Goffman, 1959), this interpretive research was conducted to observe the self presentation of the participants in a virtual communi...

INTRODUCTION This study assessed correlates of self-reported local health department (LHD) participation in community policy/advocacy activities that support physical activity. METHODS In 2014, cross-sectional data from the nationally representative 2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments study administered by the National Association of County and City Health Officials were analyze...

This paper focusses on an ‘Embedded Doctoral Design Program’ (EDDP), comprising a cohort of design PhD candidates who are ‘embedded’ outside the university for a substantial part of their candidature. Specifically, the paper details the framework and outcome for Australian doctoral candidates in architecture placed in contexts outside their experience and immediate expertise, and outside the tr...

Background National community health worker (CHW) programmes are increasingly regarded as an integral component of primary healthcare (PHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). At the interface of the formal health system and communities, CHW programmes evolve in context specific ways, with unique cadres and a variety of vertical and horizontal relationships. These programmes need...

The Semantic Web is a promising step toward improving virtual community information systems. It gives information a clearer meaning, better enabling computers and people to cooperate. However, still lacking is the purpose of the information: how is it going to be used and evolve? In a Pragmatic Web, the context of the information would be defined as well, as the community examines goal-based co...

Vol. 13 No. 4 81 venues (such as beaches or who have access to private swimming pools) to establish estimates of exposure to risk; • an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the drowning of children aged 0–6 years in NSW; • assessment of the feasibility of using community health centres as a contact point for drowning prevention information; • a feasibility trial of using a Safe Commun...

Why do the poor make shortsighted choices in decisions that involve delayed payoffs? Foregoing immediate rewards for larger, later rewards requires that decision makers (i) believe future payoffs will occur and (ii) are not forced to take the immediate reward out of financial need. Low-income individuals may be both less likely to believe future payoffs will occur and less able to forego immedi...

BACKGROUND Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) are an important link between the public health system and the community. The 'Community Participation Policy for Health' in Cambodia identifies CHWs as key to local health promotion and as a critical link between district health centres and the community. However, research on the challenges CHWs face and identifying what is required to optim...

OBJECTIVES Evidence of community health concerns stemming from industrial food animal production (IFAP) facilities continues to accumulate. This study examined the role of local and state health departments in responding to and preventing community-driven concerns associated with IFAP. METHODS We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with state and county health department staff an...

In November 2011, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), Population Health Division embarked on this journey to reorganize the public health division into a high-achieving governmental health department for the future. We used public health accreditation as the catalyst to reorganize, and the new organization structure launched on July 1, 2013. For the staff in the SFDPH, public...