Moving communities toward policy change: APPEAL's 4-prong policy change model

Doing What We Know, Knowing What to Do: Californians Linking Action with Science for Prevention of Breast Cancer (CLASP-BC)

Given the lack of progress in breast cancer prevention, the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) plans to apply current scientific knowledge about breast cancer to primary prevention at the population level. This paper describes the first phase of Californians Linking Action with Science for Prevention of Breast Cancer (CLASP-BC). The foci of Phase 1 are building coalitions and coalition capacity building through community engagement in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and dissemination and implementation (D&I) research training. Based on the successful implementation and evaluation of Phase 1, the foci of Phase 2 (presented separately in this special issue) will be to translate the California Breast Cancer Prevention Plan overarching goal and specific intervention goals for 23 breast cancer risk and protective factors strategies into evidence-informed interventions (EIIs) that are disseminated and implemented across California. CLASP-BC is designed to identify, disseminate and implement high-impact, population-based prevention approaches by funding large scale EIIs, through multi-jurisdictional actions, with the intent to decrease the risk of breast cancer and other chronic diseases (sharing common risk factors), particularly among racial/ethnic minorities and medically underserved populations in California.

Competency model for public health nurses working on tobacco control in local governments in Japan: A qualitative study

AIM

In Japan, public health nurses play a major role in tobacco control at the local government level. However, the competencies required are not clear. This study aimed to identify competencies of public health nurses working on local tobacco control in Japan.

METHODS

Twelve expert public health nurses from nine local governments in Japan participated in semi-structured interviews using the Behavioral Event Interview. Data analysis used the Iceberg Model and qualitative descriptive methods.

RESULTS

The competencies of the public health nurses were driven by three "motives": strong motivation to pioneer and change tobacco control; unwavering determination to remove barriers to tobacco control; and strong drive to achieve tobacco control. Public health nurses also showed three "attitudes": a partnership-oriented stance to delivering tobacco control; enthusiasm for evidence-based goals; and commitment to developing expertise and roles. These underpinned eight "skills": advocating to raise awareness of the need for tobacco control; positioning tobacco control as a policy issue based on regional and social situations; creating an organizational system for tobacco control; pioneering opportunities for intervention and delivering effective and locally appropriate activities; evaluating and improving the quality of tobacco control measures; developing and establishing community-based measures for tobacco-free communities; expanding activities by strategically collaborating with stakeholders; and coordinating and negotiating to avoid conflicts.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health nurses who promote tobacco control share characteristics, despite barriers such as resistance inside and outside the organization. In the future, these could be used as indicators of the competency of public health nurses working on local tobacco control.

Promising practices to eliminate tobacco disparities among Asian American, native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities

Tobacco use continues to be the single most preventable cause of death for all groups in the United States, including Asian Americans (AAs) and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs). Despite efforts in tobacco control over the past two decades, tobacco-related health disparities remain in some priority population groups, including AAs and NHPIs. This special supplement features strategies and promising practices for addressing the critical problem of tobacco in the AA and NHPI communities.

Same strategy different industry: corporate influence on public policy

In March 2013 a state judge invalidated New York City's proposal to ban sales of sugar-sweetened beverages larger than 16 ounces; the case is under appeal. This setback was attributable in part to opposition from the beverage industry and racial/ethnic minority organizations they support. We provide lessons from similar tobacco industry efforts to block policies that reduced smoking prevalence. We offer recommendations that draw on the tobacco control movement's success in thwarting industry influence and promoting public health policies that hold promise to improve population health.