New Wellness Study Results Reported from Visiting Nurse Service of New York (Addressing the Health and Wellness Needs of Vulnerable Rockaway…

New Wellness Study Results Reported from Visiting Nurse Service of New York (Addressing the Health and Wellness Needs of Vulnerable Rockaway Residents in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy: Findings From a Health Coaching and Community Health Worker ...)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Researchers detail new data in Wellness. According to news reporting from New York City, New York, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "To describe the design and participants of a program that employed health coaches and community health workers to address the social, health, and long-term disaster recovery needs of Rockaway residents roughly 2 years after Hurricane Sandy made landfall. Baseline and exit questionnaires, containing demographic, health, and health care utilization measures, were administered to participants at the start and end of the program."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, "Enrollment and encounter information was captured in program administrative records. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, personal goals, referrals to local organizations and agencies, and outcomes. Qualitative analyses were used to identify recurring themes in challenges faced by participants and barriers to health and wellness. The program served 732 community residents, of whom 455 (62%) completed baseline and exit questionnaires. Participants were directly and/or indirectly impacted by Hurricane Sandy through property damage, closures of health care facilities, limited employment opportunities, and trouble securing affordable housing. Furthermore, many participants faced considerable adversities and struggled to manage chronic health conditions. Personal goals set by participants included locating health care and other resources (44%), weight management and healthy eating (35%), and self-management of chronic conditions (24%). Health coaches and community health workers engaged participants an average of 4 timesproviding counseling and referrals to local organizations and services, including medical and dental services (29%), city-issued identification cards (27%), and health insurance and other entitlements (23%). Comparisons of baseline and exit surveys indicated significant improvements in self-reported health, health care utilization, and confidence managing health issues. No significant improvement was observed in the use of preventive health care services. The program represents a model for engaging vulnerable populations and addressing social and economic barriers to health and wellness during the long-term disaster recovery phase."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Health coaches and community health workers may be instrumental in helping to address the health and wellness needs of vulnerable residents living in disaster-affected areas."

For more information on this research see: Addressing the Health and Wellness Needs of Vulnerable Rockaway Residents in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy: Findings From a Health Coaching and Community Health Worker Program. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 2018;24(2):137-145. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins - www.lww.com; Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - journals.lww.com/jphmp/pages/default.aspx)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting D. Russell, Visiting Nurse Serv New York, Center Home Care Policy & Res, New York, NY 10001, United States. Additional authors for this research include M.R. Oberlink, S. Shah, L. Evans and K. Bassuk (see also Wellness).

Keywords for this news article include: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America, Health and Medicine, Community Health, Wellness, Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2018, NewsRx LLC