The health promotion shift into Primary Health Organisations: Implications for the health promotion workforce

Abstract

Introduction: Reconciling the primary care sector's traditional concern for individual health outcomes with a population health approach is integral to the implementation of New Zealand's Primary Health Care Strategy, and a key challenge for health promotion in New Zealand. The purpose of this study was to examine the views of health promoters, their funders and managers toward the implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy's health promotion agenda.

Methods: Focus groups and interviews were carried out with 64 health promoters and 21 health sector managers and planners and funders over the 12 months beginning March 2008. Interview and focus group transcripts were analysed thematically.

Findings: Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) have been perceived as both an opportunity and a threat to health promotion. The opportunity was seen to lie in the development of health promotion responsive to the needs of communities. Yet the numerous PHOs that emerged spread funding and capacity for health promotion thin, particularly amongst smaller PHOs.

Conclusion: The failure of the Ministry of Health to engage the health promotion workforce in the development and implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy has led to a clear sense of vulnerability among health promoters. Ideological divisions between primary care and public health have been exacerbated by the restructuring of health promotion funding and delivery. Within non-governmental organisations and public health units concern continues to surround the legitimacy of health promotion approaches undertaken within the primary health care sector.