Archives
Leadership in Primary Health Care: An international perspective
Anne McMurray
Peel Health Campus, Murdoch University, Perth WA
Abstract
A primary health care approach is essential to contemporary nursing roles such as practice nursing. This paper examines the evolution of primary health care as a global strategy for responding to the social determinants of health. Primary health care roles require knowledge of, and a focus on social determinants of health, particularly the societal factors that allow and perpetuate inequities and disadvantage. They also require a depth and breadth of leadership skills that are responsive to health needs, appropriate in the social and regulatory context, and visionary in balancing both workforce and client needs.
The key to succeeding in working with communities and groups under a primary health care umbrella is to balance the big picture of comprehensive primary health care with operational strategies for selective primary health care. The other essential element involves using leadership skills to promote inclusiveness, empowerment and health literacy, and ultimately, better health.
Keywords
nurses, leadership, primary health care, social determinants of health, practice nursing, community health
References
Antrobus S and Kitson A (1999) Nursing leadership: influencing and shaping health policy and nursing practice, Journal of Advanced Nursing 29(3): 746-753.
Bos R (2006) Health impact assessment and health promotion, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 84(11): 914-916.
Brooten D and Youngblutt J (2006) Nurse dose as a concept, Journal of Nursing Scholarship First Quarter: 94-99.
Brown D, McWilliam C and Ward-Griffin C (2006) Client-centred empowering partnership in nursing, Journal of Advanced Nursing 53(2): 160-168.
Byrne A (ed) Measuring Change. Communication for Social Change Consortium, Exerpt accessed online 4 July 2006 at http://www.communicationforsocialchange.org/mission.php.
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Health Canada, Population and Public Health Branch (2002) Estimated impact of determinants of health on health status of the population, Toronto.
Drucker P (1999) Managing oneself, Harvard Business Review 77(2): 65-74.
Graetz F (2000) Strategic change leadership, Management Decision 38(8): 550-562.
Hertzman C and Frank J (2006). Biological pathways linking the social environment, development and health. In Heymann J Hertzman C, Barer M and Evans R (eds) Healthier societies. From analysis to action. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.35-57.
Hyett E (2003) What blocks health visitors from taking on a leadership role? Journal of Nursing Management 11: 229-233.
Jooste K (2004) Leadership: A new perspective, Journal of Nursing Management 12: 217-223.
Keating D and Hertzman C (1999) Modernity's paradox. In D Keating and C Hertzman (eds) Developmental health and the wealth of nations. New York, Guildford Press, pp.1-17.
Kickbusch I (2001) Health literacy: addressing the health and education divide, Health Promotion International 16(3):289-297.
Kotter J (1990). A Force for change: How leadership differs from management. New York, The Free Press.
Kouzes J and Posner B (1988) The Leadership Challenge. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass.
Leeman J, Jackson B and Sandelowski M (2006) An evaluation of how well research reports facilitate the use of findings in practice. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2nd quarter: 171-177.
McMurray A (2007) Community health and wellness: A Socio-ecological Approach 3rd ed. Sydney, Elsevier.
National Health Medical Research Council (2005) Increasing cultural competency for healthier living: A handbook for policy, planning and practice. Consultation Draft Discussion Paper Canberra: 11 June, 2005.
Nutbeam D (2000) Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st Century, Health Promotion International 15(3): 183-184.
Porter-O'Grady T (2003). A different age for leadership, part 1, Journal of Nursing Administration 33(2): 105-110.
Porter-O'Grady T and Malloch K (2000) Quantum leadership, Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
Stanley F, Richardson S and Pryor M (2005) Children of the Lucky Country, Sydney, Pan MacMillan.
Spitzer D (2005) Engendering health disparities, Canadian Journal of Public Health 96(S2): S78-S96.
Sullivan T (1999) Leading people in a chaotic world, Journal of Educational Administration 37(5): 408-423.
Ward B, Anderson K and Sheldon M (2005) Patterns of home and community care service delivery to culturally and linguistically diverse residents of rural Victoria, Australian Journal of Rural Health 13: 348-352.
World Health Organization (2005) Action on the social determinants of health: Learning from previous experiences. A background paper prepared for the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, March. Geneva, WHO accessed 6 June 2006 at http://www.who/int/social_determinants/en/.
eContent Home