Self-reported health beliefs, lifestyle and health behaviours in community-based patients with diabetes and hypertension.

Objective: This study describes self-reported health and lifestyle behaviours and health risk beliefs among community patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Methods: Patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension were recruited from community family practices across 3 Canadian Maritime provinces. Patients completed a survey targeting health risk beliefs, and health and lifestyle behaviours.

How consumers search for health information.

To date most of the research concerning consumer health information has focused on trust and quality of health information websites. In this research, we observed 48 consumers searching for four health-related topics (some of their own choosing) using Google. Using transaction logs, video screen capture, retrospective verbal protocols and self-reported questionnaires, we examined holistically the consumer's search process.

Defining and operationalizing capacity for heart health promotion in Nova Scotia, Canada.

This paper presents an operational definition of capacity building for heart health promotion, instruments developed to measure heart health capacity, and baseline results of capacity for 20 organizations. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to collect data. Three instruments were developed to measure organizational capacity for heart health promotion: a survey of community agencies involved in heart health, a questionnaire of organizational practices supportive of heart health promotion, and an interview guide that focused on factors influencing heart health promotion.

Facilitators and challenges to organizational capacity building in heart health promotion.

The authors describe the facilitators and challenges to a multi-sectoral initiative aiming at building organizational capacity for heart health promotion in Nova Scotia, Canada. The research process was guided by participatory action research. The study included 21 organizations from diverse sectors.

Building capacity for heart health promotion: results of a 5-year experience in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Purpose: To present the outcomes of a capacity-building initiative for heart health promotion.

Design: Follow-up study combining quantitative and qualitative methods.

Setting: The Western Health Region of Nova Scotia, Canada.