Public health models can be important in delivering quality care for many reasons. These models can enrich current public health programs and help with identifications of areas of need. Models can examine where interventions are needed and where collaborations are desired to improve outcomes. Programs can be specific at times and using models can broaden perspective for overall improvement (Friedman & Starfield, 2003). Models can also help in practice to focus programs to be integrated and multifactor. Many models show the need for intersectoral activities and bring attention to environmental and community influences. Evaluation frameworks suggested by models can help with evaluation frameworks as well (Friedman & Starfield, 2003). All of these important factors can improve quality health care.
While there are many traditional models there are also developing models for the modern time. One of interest was an article looking at the Laugh Model used in Utah. A low-cost social media platform was examined. The goal being communication with the public concerning public health hoping to get their message received and community engagement to occur (Lister et al., 2015). There was an online campaign concerning healthy family meals. Facebook ads, Twitter ads, and other social media engagement and results were measured looking at people visiting the intended nutrition site. The model they followed resulted in an indeed lower cost way to reach more people. When the population was engaged this way, it was found that it may be more effective, evidence of social media enhancing collaborations, effectiveness, and increased sustainability (Lister et al., 2015). When communication and access is improved it is one way to get people quality care.
Another, more widely used, public health model is the Health Belief Model. This model is theoretical in nature and used in guidance with health promotion and disease prevention programs. It is used to predict and comprehend individual health behaviors (Rural Health Information Hub, 2018). The model looks at key variables that influence behaviors such as personal belief of perceived threat, how severe one thinks the consequence will be, how beneficial they think a change may be, perceived barriers, and confidence of success of any changes undertaken. This model is useful for the creation of both short- and long-term interventions (Rural Health Information Hub, 2018). The implementation of this model can help quality care be delivered for many reasons. There is guidance for a needs assessment helping to determine populations that should be targeted for interventions, education of risk, communication to the public in appropriate ways, working to reduce barriers, and providing support that is likely to help individual behavior changes (Rural Health Information Hub, 2018).
References
Friedman, D. J. & Starfield, B. (2003). Models of Population Health: Their Value for US Public Health Practice, Policy, and Research. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 366-369. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.3.366
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