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Background Mis-implementation (i.e., the premature termination or inappropriate continuation of public health programs) contributes to the misallocation of limited public health resources and the sub-optimal response to the growing global burden of chronic disease. This study seeks to describe the occurrence of mis-implementation in four countries of differing sizes, wealth, and experience with evidence-based chronic disease prevention (EBCDP). Methods A cross-sectional study of 400 local public health practitioners in Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016. Online survey questions focused on how often mis-termination and mis-continuation occur and the most common reasons programs end and continue. Results We found significant differences in knowledge of EBCDP across countries with upwards of 75% of participants from Australia (n = 91/121) and the United States (n = 83/101) reporting being moderately to extremely knowledgeable compared with roughly 60% (n = 47/76) from Brazil and 20% (n = 21/102) from China (p

Implementation of evidence-based practices can improve efficiency and effectiveness of public health efforts. Few studies have explored the political contextual factors that impact implementation of evidence-based non-communicable disease prevention (EBNCDP). This study aimed to do so in Australia, Brazil, China and the United States. Investigators conducted 10-13 qualitative, semi-structured interviews of public health practitioners working in functionally similar public health organizations in each country (total N = 50). Study participants were identified through purposive sampling and interviews were structured around an interview guide covering six domains related to EBNCDP. Interviewees from all four countries identified funding as the primary politically-influenced barrier to implementing EBNCDP. Similarly widespread barriers included government funding priorities that shift based on who is in power and the difficulty of convincing policy-makers and funders that non-communicable disease prevention is a wise investment of political capital. Policymakers who are not evidence-driven was another common barrier even in the United States and Australia, where EBNCDP is more established. Findings suggest that political contextual factors influence EBNCDP and vary to an extent by country, though certain factors seem to be universal. This can aid public health practitioners, political leaders, and policymakers in advocating for conditions and policies that encourage evidence-based practice. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background Little is known about the contextual factors affecting the uptake of evidence-based chronic disease interventions in the United States and in other countries. This study sought to better understand the contextual similarities and differences influencing the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based chronic disease prevention (EBCDP) in Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States. Methods Between February and July 2015, investigators in each country conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews (total N = 50) with chronic disease prevention practitioners, using interview guides that covered multiple domains (e.g., use of and access to EBCDP interventions, barriers and facilitators to the implementation of EBCDP interventions). Results Practitioners across the four countries reported only a few programmatic areas in which repositories of EBCDP interventions were used within their workplace. Across countries, academic journals were the most frequently cited channels for accessing EBCDP interventions, though peers were commonly cited as the most useful. Lack of time and heavy workload were salient personal barriers among practitioners in Australia and the United States, while lack of expertise in developing and implementing EBCDP interventions was more pertinent among practitioners from Brazil and China. Practitioners in all four countries described an organizational culture that was unsupportive of EBCDP. Practitioners in Brazil, China and the United States cited an inadequate number of staff support to implement EBCDP interventions. A few practitioners in Australia and China cited lack of access to evidence. Partnerships were emphasized as key facilitators to implementing EBCDP interventions across all countries. Conclusions This study is novel in its cross-country qualitative exploration of multilevel constructs of EBCDP dissemination and implementation. The interviews produced rich findings about many contextual similarities and differences with EBCDP that can inform both cross-country and country-specific research and practice to address barriers and improve EBCDP implementation among the four countries long-term.

Effective interventions are needed to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. In the past 35 years, family-based approach has gradually developed as a preferred intervention. This review aimed to examine the methodological rigour and treatment effectiveness of family-based interventions according to intervention types and theoretical orientations. A total of 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of family-based lifestyle interventions for children and adolescents aged 2-19 years were included. The adapted Methodological Quality Rating Scales (MQRS) and a four-grade qualitative scoring scheme were adopted to evaluate the methodological rigour and the effectiveness of treatment, respectively. The average MQRS score was 7.93 out of 14 points. Ten of the 15 RCTs had well aligned their research questions with appropriate research methods. The overall short-term outcome of the15 RCTs were satisfactory with an average score of 3.1. Family-based interventions rooted in behaviour theory achieved better results than those theoretically connected to family systems theory in terms of treatment effectiveness. Results suggest future studies to improve the methodological design and continue to explore the potential of the family systems approach.

We studied 12 migrant families who lived on the outskirts of Beijing, conducting participant observations and in-depth interviews between July 2008 and December 2009. Adopting the family strengths perspective, we identified the strategies employed by the migrant population to manage family life, the reliance on family networks for help and support, and their means of coping with the lack of equal access to state-provided benefits and services. We argue that migrants and their families should not be the target of policy or practice interventions – despite the unequal treatment, they cope with various difficulties, survive the migration process and succeed in adjustment and adaptation to the migrant life – rather, the divisive hukou system and the associated unequal distribution of benefits and services require fundamental reform.

This article examines the life stories of women leaders in the People’s Republic of China, particularly their paths to leadership, in the context of sociohistorical changes that have unfolded in China since the late 1970s. It illustrates how women developed their attitudes toward leadership roles and their unique leadership style. By unveiling the dynamic interplay between culture and institutional factors presented by social change, the authors argue that the choices these women leaders made were shaped by their continual efforts to reconcile conflicting roles arising from two axes: the “expert-official” and the “private-public” dichotomies. The article concludes with an urgent call to policymakers to protect the rights of Chinese women by developing a workplace policy that promotes gender equality at the top of the political pyramid. Such a policy would take into consideration the inherent frictions and dilemmas experienced by Chinese women leaders.

This article argues that the usefulness of action research hinges on a heightened sensitivity towards its relevance and irrelevance to social, economic and cultural environments in which the professional action researchers conduct their research. Its contribution to transforming social situations depends on how well the researchers can bring the different stakeholders of the local community together to learn about themselves and each other, and identify and find ways to address the implicit barriers to the effective use of action research. We also argue that it is this contribution that distinguishes action research from other approaches of social development in China. We draw from the lessons learned during one of our action research projects conducted in China with a focus on seeking effective strategies in dealing with the unemployment problem of middle-aged women workers. The researchers played the role of change agents to encourage participatory negotiation between the local officials and the women.

The restructuring of state-owned enterprises since China's economic reform in 1978 has resulted in massive unemployment, especially layoffs of middle-aged women workers. State policies and programmes developed to combat unemployment often disregard the voices of these women and deprive them of opportunities to participate in reemployment solutions. The authors initiated an action research project in Beijing in which researchers facilitated unemployed women to find their own voices and negotiating solutions to their problems through a collaborative-action research process. Contrary to the women's customary approach of depending on the government to solve their problems, action research demanded that they take on active roles in coping with the unemployment crisis and practice reflexivity, collaboration, and community participation. The article recaptures the process through which unemployed women were empowered to gradually develop their voices through the different stages of the collaborative-action research process.

Social work educators often ask what kinds of pedagogy can help develop students' competence in addressing the widening gap between theory and practice. The authors conducted an action experiment in Beijing, exploring the extent to which Schon's reciprocal‐reflection theory inhibited or facilitated post‐graduate students' learning of the art of synthesizing Western social work theories and local knowledge. Schon's theory postulates that the reciprocal‐reflection that occurs between teacher and learner determines the latter's ability to integrate theory with practice. This paper first presents the challenges facing social work practitioners on the Chinese Mainland. Second, it discusses how the students employed reciprocal‐reflection to guide them in making a shift from their applied model approach to a collaborative approach based on action research philosophy. Third, it highlights the lessons learnt from the experimentation of providing the Chinese students with a Western approach to learning and teaching.

An under‐explored area in social work is the development of theories of social work education. The author has made use of her own teaching practice in Hong Kong, systematically experimenting with some of the experiential learning theories developed since the early 1990s, to generate practice knowledge. This paper presents two major findings of one of the author's action research experiences that shed light on the process by which learners who are experts in a particular approach to practice gain new practice knowledge. The first finding contributes to the theoretical understanding of one of the factors that can prevent learners from acquiring substantive knowledge. In particular, the distinct frames that both teachers and learners bring to their teaching–learning experience determine how well learners gain new substantive knowledge. The second finding contributes to the development of practice knowledge, revealing how ineffective teaching and learning can change so that learners can adopt new, more effect...

This paper contains our reflections about our experiences in employing a capacity building model for training social workers to conduct community development work in rural China. Unlike the conventional approach to social work practicum, our approach advocates an educational practice of capacity building; not only for local people and learners, but for educators as well. It stresses that the educator should assume a non‐expert role in relating to his/her students so that the students will do the same with local people. We challenge the concept of the social work educator as an expert because it gives a teacher the power and authority to dominate students, which disempowers students during the learning process. In the same vein, we challenge the desire of social work students to become experts in rural development, which in turn disempowers local people from taking charge of the future direction of their lives in rural China. The capacity building approach subscribes to a critical pedagogy that calls for a...

A Chinese woman (Mrs. L) suffering from lowbackpain was referred for psychological consultation. Subsequent investigation linked her back pain to a chronology of life events, including premarital sex, desertion, arranged marriage, and miscarriage. The therapist chose a strategic move that reframed her problems in terms of Chinese familism. Eventually, low back pain was alleviated, contingent upon an improved marital relationship and the birth of a baby boy. The case of Mrs. L highlighted the interplay between psychotherapy and cultural considerations. However, warnings were served against noncritical acceptance of broad generalization and cultural relativism.

I have been practising social work for almost three decades in different parts of the world, but mostly in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Social work is a field of practice which is diverse with many different kinds and types. I believe that to be a social worker is an existential choice each practitioner has to make from time to time; another important decision is what kind of social work to do and what not to do. In this chapter, I will highlight the key figures and theoretical frameworks that have shaped my choice of certain social work models to guide my practice. I will begin by telling you a brief story about myself. Setting a stage around this biographic information, I hope that readers will appreciatehow social work as a profession has given great meaning to the life of a young Chinese woman who was born in Hong Kong.