Original scientific paper
IMPROVEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION IN ISTRIAN REGION – IMPORTANCE OF CROSS-SECTORAL COOPERATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
ROBERTA KATAČIĆ
; Administrative Department for Health and Social Care, Istrian Region, Pula, Croatia
SONJA GROZIĆ-ŽIVOLIĆ
; Administrative Department for Health and Social Care, Istrian Region, Pula, Croatia
SANEL HRVATIN
; Istrian Health Care Center, Pula, Croatia
VEDRANA FONTANA MIKULIĆ
; Pula General Hospital, Institute of Public Health of Istrian Region, Pula, Croatia
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major public health problem and the leading cause of death in Croatia. Notwithstanding CVD are very preventable, there is not a comprehensive strategy for their control and prevention in Croatia. The Istrian region has chosen CVD prevention as one of its public health priorities from 2005 to 2016 and has developed an integrative model of good practice with services above national standards. There are several aims highlighted in this article: to show the methodology and results of the activities implemented through the Istrian Health Plan and the LOVE YOUR HEART project; to explain the need for development of services above national standards; to emphasize the importance of cooperation at different levels; and to address the sustainability issues. The methods used during the process of CVD prevention improvement were strategic planning and evaluation, SWOT analysis, investing in preventive services above national standards in health care institutions, supporting nongovernmental organizations through public tenders, and using European Union funds through cross border cooperation programs. During the implementation period, 107 different educative materials for professionals and citizens were created, and at least 139 professionals were educated. Signifi cant resources for equipment and infrastructure were invested and an integrative informative system was created. The fi rst Istrian center for CVD prevention was established and its experimental work lasted for 17 months with 2625 risk citizens screened, 637 risk citizens/patients educated, and 1124 patients viewed by cardiologists. Several cooperation networks among various providers of preventive services at different levels were established intentionally. Since there is no comprehensive strategy for CVD prevention in Croatia, the Istrian region has developed its own strategy/CVD prevention model above
national standards and piloted it for 17 months. The process evaluation showed signifi cant results, the end users were satisfied, and evaluation of short-term impacts was satisfactory. Cross-sectoral cooperation, networking at various levels and broad coverage through economically viable and wide-ranging programs available at the lowest local level were essential for success. However, in order to be completely successful and to reduce CVD morbidity and mortality, the regional CVD
prevention program should expand and provide a far greater range and attainability to the population at large, for a long period of time. Unfortunately, regional government has no strength and resources to support complete sustainability of the fully developed program, and sustainability issues occur. In order to sustain a prevention program that addresses the biggest national public health problem and which is expanded to the whole population, help from the national level institutions is needed. In conclusion, the Istrian region has developed an integrative model of CVD prevention services above national
standards, through its Health Plan and through the LOVE YOUR HEART project. The achieved results were very satisfactory and the role of cross-sectoral cooperation at different levels was crucial.
Keywords
CVD prevention; Istrian region; cooperation; sustainability; above national standards; LOVE YOUR HEART
Hrčak ID:
199327
URI
Publication date:
20.4.2018.
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