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Alternative medicine is becoming the important factor in health care in most countries of developed world. Generally, that development was enabled by spreading of postmodern comprehension within the Western Weltanschauung. Postmodern comprehension both, enabled deconstruction of dominant health paradigm, and stimulated acceptance of pluralistic attitudes in matters of health care. So, alternative medicine is travelling now on a rather fast track through medical institutions and even through most solemn medical campuses of developed world. Of course, there is no doubt who is holding the reins there. So, in order to cut through power plays of powers that be it is crucial to be aware of distinctions between alternative and official medicine. The differentia specifica of alternative medicine could be understood by dropping out of Cartesian paradigm and by turning to the basic postulates of holographic paradigm., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

e-Health describes the application of information and communications technologies across the whole range of functions that affect the health sector. e-Health tools or solutions include products, systems and services that go beyond simply internet-based applications. They include tools for health authorities and professionals as well as personalised health systems for patients and citizens. It can improve access to healthcare and boost the quality and effectiveness of the services offered. Examples include health information networks, electronic health records, telemedicine services, personal wearable and portable communicable systems, health portals, and many other information and communication technology-based tools assisting prevention, diagnosis, treatment, health monitoring, and lifestyle management. When combined with organisational changes and the development of new skills, e-Health can help to deliver better care for less money within citizen-centred health delivery systems., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

The important role of technology is outlined and broader understanding of the term technology supported, i.e. including besides equipment also people’s know-how. The kind, types and ways of application of technologies are discussed in relation to present practice of health care. Finally, the role of AT (adequate technology), TA (technology assessment) and TT (technology transfer) are presented., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

HESME program concept is based on building and strengthening existing national structures and practices for health promotion at workplace, occupational health and safety, and environmental health. As part of the global HESME program, which includes different activities in the Republic of Macedonia, HESME pilot projects in two enterprises in 2003/2004 were aimed at analysis and setting targets of workplace health promotion. The analysis was made by the Institute of Occupational Health, WHO Collaborating Center and conclusions and recommendations to all stakeholders were presented. Workplace health promotion needs and priorities were defined: control of work environment hazards, smoking and alcohol consuming, encouragement of sport activities. Dealing with health problems (specific indications on stress, muscle pains, injuries at work, respiratory and allergy problems) and addiction problems (alcohol consuming, smoking), application of self-protection measures, education of managerial team on workplace hazards and ergonomics. HESME pilot implementation in both enterprises is centered on encouraging the integration of workplace health promotion issues at enterprise level as preparation for further steps., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

For few decades the value of a community, empowerment, community-based care, population-based needs assessment was discussed, but not so much of the evidence of this commitment was found in the public health interventions. Potential contributions from the social sciences tend to be overwhelmed by the appeal of the biomedical and behavioural sciences. Three concepts and notions notion of community in public health were dominated: First, community- a lots and lots of people or community as the population; second could be described as community as “giant reinforcement schedule” or community as setting, with aspects of that setting being used as levers to support and maintain individual behaviour change. The third, newest, approach sees community as “eco-system with capacity to work towards solutions to its own community identified problems” or to see it as a social system. This notion of community focused on strengths instead merely on deficits. Two groups of research activities (systematic study of communities and inequality research) supported with evidence from many applied researches done through development of European Healthy Cities Project contributed to this shift in perception of the value of the community. In this course we elaborate inequity research, “System” study of communities and present case study: „Community applied research in Croatia- “triggered” by Healthy Cities“., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

At present almost all health care systems are concerned mainly with ensuring equity, access, high quality and efficiency of health care. A very important aspect of quality, especially in public health, is its relation to scientific knowledge about effective interventions. The concept of Disease management programmes (DMPs) has been introduced to implement evidence-based clinical practice through guidelines, care protocols etc, to improve coordination among healthcare providers and assure continuity and comprehensiveness of care. DMPs organize health care in multidisciplinary, multicomponent, proactive approach focusing on the whole course of a disease, using evidence-based standards of care. There is no single definition of a Disease management programme, because of their diversity and heterogeneity. They are characterized by three main features: a knowledge base, a delivery system with coordinated care components, and a continuous improvement process. The basic advantages and uncertainties about DMPs are discussed in the module, as well as the ways and results of their implementation. A case study is presented, discussing a proposed model for Cardiovascular disease management programme in Bulgaria., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

The subject of the prison policy is mostly male population (there are, 5-7% of woman among prison inmates). Most of them are living under the harsh physical, psychical and social conditions. In addition, many prison inmates came to serve their sentence with developed risky life styles. That is why prisons are breeding an array of health problems. Typical are mental health problems, drug addiction and infectious diseases among which dominant role have tuberculosis, AIDS and hepatitis. The prison health care is rather neglected area. Recently, there were efforts to change this situation. The most prominent changes were characterized by measures of primary prevention, screening and systematic check-ups. That orientation has brought some improvements. However, introducing of the concept of the social determinants of health brought into the domain of the prison health care additional demands. From the point of view of these demands, the health policy in prisons should be based on two principles: the holistic principle, and the principle of human rights. The two blind alleys should be avoided: biomedical approach because of its superficiality and the risk factors approach because of its partiality. The four priorities should be followed: the professional one, the contextual one, the developmental one, and the economical one. The engagement should focus on the primordial prevention, domain of meanings, psycho- social development and sustainability. This is the health directed approach and not the medical one, and it can be allied with the similar engagement of other professionals working along the similar directions., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

CAM is, from the point of view of public health, a phenomenon that should be followed, analysed and controlled. Noxious as well as protective factors which accompany the implementation of CAM methods should be recognised so as to be able to inform the public of the results in a timely and accurate manner. The case study analyses the viewpoints of medical doctors, patients and the state of the phenomenon of CAM in Slovenia. A declinatory attitude of conventional medicine to CAM is present. In contrast, population express a favourable opinion on alternative methods of treatment, and more than a third of them actually make use of them., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

Healthy Cities is a dynamic concept/approach, which seeks to put health high on the political and social agenda of cities and to build a strong movement for public health at the local level. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network consists of a network of cities from around Europe that are committed to a comprehensive implementation of the Healthy Cities concept. Based on the criteria that are renewed every five years, the cities are designated to the WHO Network. Each five-year phase focuses on a number of core priority themes, which are launched with a political declaration and a set of strategic aims. Phase IV (2003–2008) has three core themes being, healthy urban planning, health impact assessment, and healthy ageing, with additional core theme and encourages action to tackle obesity and promote physical activity and active living. In Slovenia, Celje with its around 50.000 inhabitants become one of the 50 cities, included in basic WHO Healthy Cities Network in the Phase IV of the project. It is presented as an example to illustrate this phase of the project., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

There have been various definitions of screening over the years, but simply what we are talking about in screening is seeking to identify a disease or pre-disease condition in apparently healthy individuals. This concept is now widely accepted in most of the developed word. Used wisely, it can be a powerful tool in the prevention of a disease. Screening has important ethical differences from clinical practice as the health service is targeting apparently healthy people, offering to help individuals to make better informed choices about their health. The module is presenting basic theoretical background necessary for understanding the usefulness of screenings, the screening process, and potential risks, as well as it provides a case study of breastt cancer screening., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

The use of qualitative and consensus building techniques enables better understanding and improved collaboration among “policy stakeholders” (politicians, administration, public health professionals and community) involved in needs assessment and health policy formulation. War, migration, and transition in South East Europe hardened most of public health activities but especially made the process of health needs assessment and formulation of health policy very difficult. Qualitative analytical methods have been introduced in Croatia over the last 10 years. Nine Croatian cities and 15 Croatian counties created City/County Health Profiles and City/County Health Plans by using qualitative methods. The greatest gain from introducing the qualitative analytical approach is wider participation in planning and managing of the resources for health at all levels, from community and regional to national level. Qualitative analytical approach was conducted through an intense and prolonged contact with a field, and real community life, enabling gaining of a 'holistic' overview of the local community., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

The school, in conjunction with the family, is one of the key setting where individual and social development occurred. The health promoting school is based on a social model of health. This emphasizes the entire organization of the school, as well as focusing upon the individual. Paper describes the development of health promoting schools movement (from practice to policy), main principles and concepts, differences between school health promotion and health promoting schools. Special emphases is given to the criteria and set of guidelines towards which schools aspiring to the status of health promoting school were required to work., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

Pre-school period is extremely important in adopting individual health behaviour. Consecutively it is very important how to present health and healthy behaviour to the child. The project is directed to create conditions for children’s well-being and health, education for a healthy behaviour, and support of social and professional partners. At the beginning of the nineties, a project entitled »Healthy Schools« was launched by the World Health Organization to stimulate schools for incorporation of health promotion in their curricula and everyday life. Since this project was relating to primary schools only, similar project entitled »Healthy Kindergarten« was developed in some European countries. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the development, aim, and goals of healthy kindergartens, and as an example how the project concepts could be implemented as a routine. The first case study is presenting the development of the »Healthy Kindergarten« project in Slovenia, and the »Health in the Kindergartens« programme, the successor of the project, implemented as a routine. The second case is presenting an intervention tool in Hong Kong where children’s health status was found to be poor., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

Telecare is a new means of providing healthcare and social support at home where telecommunication technologies are the medium for service provision. It uses a public telephone network and provides a means of getting help, notably for people who are at risk of falling, sudden illness, fits or seizures. Sensors added to a carephone are introduced monitor the user’s environment and health condition and alert a response centre when there is a threat to their health or well-being. Personal response systems operate in all western European countries and also, more recently, in Slovenia. Experiences gathered when establishing a pilot network of carephones and a response centre in the capital city of Ljubljana are presented along with a discussion of the efforts made to create a national network. A personal response system as a telecare application used primarily by vulnerable older people with response centres having the capacity to serve 30.000 potential users. Obstacles to their development are discussed., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 5: Management in Health Care Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers and Health Professionals

Workplace health promotion is a process of actively achieving health at workplace by changing working and living conditions. As a key concept it includes measures aimed both at individual and at environmental level from different areas. Good practice in workplace health promotion demands statutory requirements and strong motivation. Increasing consciousness and responsibility for health, identification and dissemination of models of good practice, development and incorporating adequate policies are priorities in workplace health promotion. The basic principles on which workplace health promotion has to be developed are: awareness raising, setting up infrastructure and service management. Beneficial effects can be achieved on individual, enterprise and society levels. The Institute of Occupational Health, WHO Collaborating Center, plays a major role in launching the first workplace health promotion activities in the Republic of Macedonia (education programs for stress managing at workplace, tobacco free workplaces), but the strongest impulse for workplace health promotion in the country is created by the implementation of the WHO’s Health, Environment and Safety Management in Enterprises (HESME) program., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers

This paper describes how was incorporated a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectored approach into development of public health policy and plans at the local (county) level in Croatia by educational program. Method used was the public health capacity building program »Health – Plan for it«, which was developed with the aim to assist the counties to overcome recognized weaknesses and introduce more effective and efficient local public health practices. Two main instruments were used: Local Public Health Practice Performance Measures Instrument, and Basic Priority Rating System. This program has helped counties to asses population health needs in a participatory manner, to plan for health and, ultimately, assure provision of the right kind and quality of services (better tailored to population health needs). This program’s benefits are going beyond and above the county level. It provides support for the Healthy Cities project locally, and facilitates changes in national policymaking body’s mindset that a »one-size-fits-all« approach is sufficient., Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe, Programmes for Training on Research in Public Health for South Eastern Europe. Vol. 4: Health promotion and disease prevention: A Handbook for Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals and Decision Makers