Reflecting the dynamic nexus of health education research and practice, the complementary peer-reviewed publications include writings taken from SOPHE's inaugural summit, Health Disparities and Social Inequities: Framing a Transdisciplinary Research Agenda in Health Education, held last summer.
A central theme among authors writing in HEB (August 2006) is that health disparities research defies any single investigative line of inquiry. Rather, a transdisciplinary approach is required providing the scientific framework for interventions, collaborations, and policies to address the highly complex, interactive factors contributing to health disparities. Likewise, the complementary July 2006 issue of HPP looks at health funding, politics and policy impacting health disparities. Experts working on the front lines discuss ways to improve health literacy and to encourage communities to eliminate health disparities, as well as innovative mentoring programs to encourage a more diverse public health workforce.
"It is critical that we not only create our own research agenda," writes Stephen Gambescia, PhD, SOPHE President, "but also advocate that the health disparities concern receives attention from the funders of research. This funding must include initiatives that go beyond the traditional health services issues to the often-neglected preventive and community health education services."
An HPP supplement (July 2006), examines the innovative, community-driven Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010) program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. REACH 2010 involves diverse U.S. communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to address health disparities. The HPP supplement examines selected programs demonstrating notable results in decreasing health disparities and improving health outcomes.
Additional information on the special journal collection and upcoming webcast series is available on SOPHE's website (www.sophe.org). To view the table of contents, abstracts, or purchase copies of the journals, see http://www.sagepublications.com/promos/1068104_sophe.html. To find out more about SAGE's Health Promotion Practice (HPP) and Health Education & Behavior (HEB), please visit http://hpp.sagepub.com and http://heb.sagepub.com.
About SOPHE:
SOPHE is a non-profit organization providing leadership to the profession of public health education. It contributes to the health of all people and the elimination of disparities through advances in health education theory and research, excellence in professional preparation and practice, and advocacy for public policies conducive to health. Published six times annually, HEB publishes authoritative and practical information on critical health issues for professionals interested in understanding health behavior, health status, and strategies to improve social and behavior health. HPP is a quarterly publication that publishes information for professionals engaged in developing, implementing, and evaluating health promotion and disease prevention programs.
About SAGE:
SAGE Publications is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology and medicine. SAGE Publications, a privately owned corporation, has principal offices in Thousand Oaks, California, London, United Kingdom, and New Delhi, India. www.sagepublications.com
Journal
Health Promotion Practice