Dialogue in the IUHPE about a health promotion code of ethics

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Dialogue in the IUHPE about a health promotion
code of ethics

• ISECN Working Group on Ethics

Torill Bull Hope Corbin Elisha Riggs Gabrielle
Holmefjord Suzzie N. Nchogu
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ISECN ethics working group
IUHPE
I UHPE S TUDENT AND E ARLY C AREER N ETWORK
ISECN
ISECN Working Group on Ethics
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ISECN ethics working group

• Elisha Riggs, Australia
• Gabrielle Holmefjord, Norway
• Hope Corbin, US
• Torill Bull, Norway
• Suzzie N. Nchogu, Kenya

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Two aims
Draft for Code of Ethics
IUHPE
IUHPE Board of Trustees
ISECN
Health Promotion Community
Awareness, debate publications
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What is ethics

• more than a necessary part of a scientific
  paper?

• informed consent

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Definition of ethics

• The discipline concerned with what is morally
  good and bad, right and wrong
• Its subject consists of the fundamental issues
  of practical decision making

Encyclopædia Britannica, Htpp//www.britannica.com
/
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Practical decision making
What to do?
Where?
When?
And why?
For whom?
With whom?
How?
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Mittelmark 2008

• We need an increased dialogue on ethics and
  values of health promotion
• An ethic for health promotion has yet to be
  codified.

Mittelmark, MB (2008) Setting an ethical agenda
for health promotion. Health Promotion
International 23 78-85
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Sindall 2002

• We need to develop conferences, discussion groups
  and other forums on Ethics in health promotion.
• Journals should call for papers on the topic.
• Nominates IUHPE as a candidate for writing a code
  of ethics

Sindall, C. (2002) Does health promotion need a
code of ethics? Health Promotion International,
17, 201-203.
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Why have a code of ethics?

• "The very exercise of developing a code is in
  itself worthwhile it forces a large number of
  people...to think through in a fresh way their
  mission and the important obligations they as a
  group and as individuals have with respect to
  society as a whole."

DeGeorge, Richard T. Military Ethics A Code of
Ethics for Officers. Washington,National Defense
University Press, 1987.
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Why have a code of ethics 2

• to define acceptable behaviours
• As a benchmark for self evaluation
• Signifying occupational identity
• guidance in practical decision making

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What are the defensible bounds of health
promotion?

• A community uniting diverse professions, with
  different codes.
• Diversity of
• Actors
• Activities
• Arenas

Mittelmark (2008) Health promotion a
professional community for social justice.
Promotion Education
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(No Transcript)
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A common platform?
decisions
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Important documents

• Ottawa Charter the ethical cornerstone?
• Various professional codes from
• Care and welfare delivery
• Social sciences

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Many considerations

• Content?
• Creators?
• Format?
• Audience?
• Enforcements?

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Considerations For Writing A Code Of Ethics

• Tailor-make your code
• Get your community involved.
• Consult key stakeholders.
• Be clear and specific.
• Plan for education.
• Be specific about enforcements
• A sunset date

Adapted from Chris MacDonald, Ph.D. http//www.et
hicsweb.ca/codes/coe3.htm
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Process
Qualitative
Quantitative
Discussions with hp community
Mixed method study
Literature reviews
Writing process
Dissemination
We are here
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Qualitative study

• Depth interviews
• Seasoned hp professionals (ca 12)
• Recruited globally

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Quantitative study

• Web-based survey
• Listservs
• A wide and varied selection of health promoters

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• www.isecn.org