Men's Health Pub Project
1. Introduction
In 1998, the Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership produced a three-year crime reduction strategy in response to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Broadwater Ward was identified as a hotspot because it has disproportionately high levels of crime and disorder and problems of social deprivation.
Two community consultation exercises in the form of ‘Planning for Real’ were carried out in the autumn of 1999. This process engaged residents, businesses and local interest groups in the Broadwater Ward. Over one thousand individual comments were recorded; addressing health issues were among many priorities identified including the need for "well-man" health clinics in the area.
2. Purpose of Project and Objectives
Men in Worcestershire have a higher risk of ill health
- High levels of men are overweight (but not obese),
- Higher than average numbers of men are smoking
- A greater proportion of men than average drink excessively,
- There is a higher level than average of men involved in major accidents.
The project aimed to achieve the following health improvements:
- Reduction in smoking and related cardio vascular disease
- Improved knowledge of local health services and access to information
- to tackle preventable ill health
- Provision of lifestyle data to inform local health policy
- Increased community participation in health issues
- Improved collaboration between agencies
- Improvement in community health, reduction in disease.
3. Participants
The project involved the following partners: -
- Wyre Forest District Council.
- Community Safety Health Visitors from Worcestershire Health and Environment Community.
- Mental Health Trust Health Promotion Co-ordinator from Worcestershire Health Authority.
- Close liaison with the Assistant Director of Public Health for Worcestershire Health Authority.
- Close liaison with the Chief Executive of the Wyre Forest Primary Care Group.
4. Methodology
Local health visitors held a pilot health clinic for men in local pubs where they were encouraged to talk about their lifestyle and undertake certain health checks.
The health clinics were advertised locally through posters and leaflets distributed in pubs by health visitors who also described the advantages of attending a clinic to the male clientele.
Lifestyle Survey
The following information was gathered:
a) Personal details- Age, ethnicity, marital and employment status.
b) GP and dentist details – Are you registered? If no, why not? Date of last visit?
c) Use of health outreach services – knowledge and use of what is available locally.
d) Prescription/medical product – Name and location of chemist/shop used.
e) Comments on pubs project – Participants were encouraged to express their views on the event and health issues in general.
Health Check
A team of three female Health Visitors attended each session at the two public houses. The Health Check consisted of:
- Blood Pressure
- Weight
- Height
- Body – Mass Index
Peak flow and blood sugar were optional checks.
Following the pilot project in Broadwater, the Health Visiting Team formed themselves into a planning group and managed the roll out of the pub project across other identified ‘deprivation’ areas. The team invited in members from Health Promotion and other disciplines and allocated tasks as appropriate.
Two further public houses were approached and dates and times arranged with the landlords.
5. Evaluation
The project was evaluated in the following manner. Following the health check, a total of twenty-one men were advised to attend their GP Surgery immediately. Fourteen men subsequently attended for a follow up check. The value of this system has been demonstrated by the fact that one man referred has since been diagnosed with diabetes.
As part of the evaluation the participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire. This indicated that they wanted help to improve their health and when advice was given, they were keen to follow suggestions and improve their lifestyle.
The project has raised the profile of men’s health in the area and the pilot project has informed further work to promote men’s health.
As a result of the pilot study and evaluation, the teams visited a series of pubs on a monthly basis, over a period of 12 months, in deprived localities. This work will be assessed by comparisons with other project work, which involved two pilots: -
1. Men’s Health check for new dads in an evening clinic setting.
2. Men’s health checks at home when a new baby is born into his household.
6. Resources
- The National Men’s Health Forum provided useful information.
- Drug companies helped with supplying equipment and advertising.
- Worcestershire Men’s Health Network.
- Men’s Health Forum.
7. Obstacles
Gaining adequate funding.
8. Lessons Learned
The work and audit results could help inform other areas/agencies keen to do similar work. The project could easily be replicated in other parts of the country and with other population groups.
9. Future Work
The future of the men’s health work will be re-evaluated and re-focussed to fit in with the priorities within the Trust’s Local Delivery Plan. Men’s health issues are written into the plan within the ‘Reducing Health Inequalities’ section.
10. Contacts
(Information supplied by: Ruth Hawkesford, Health Visitor)Name: Christina Attwood,
Job Title: Health Improvement Facilitator
Local Authority Name: Wyre Forest Primary District Council
Telephone Number: 01562-826338
Fax Number: 01562-826388
Email Address: Christina.attwood@wyreforest-pct.
Other Resources: