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Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach
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Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach

A Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601) belonging to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2027 | Viewed by 4314

Editor

Dr. Pedro Melo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
RISE-Health, Nursing School of Porto, University of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: community health nursing; public health nursing; epidemiology; community-based care; community-based research; community empowerment; nursing diagnoses; nursing interventions; nursing outcomes; nursing education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the vital intersection between community health nursing and public health strategies and how it aids in promoting population’s well-being.

As global health systems face increasing challenges—ranging from chronic disease burdens to health inequities, emerging infectious threats, and political challenges—community health nurses play a pivotal role in bridging clinical care with public health initiatives. This Special Issue intends to highlight innovative models, evidence-based practices, and interdisciplinary collaborations specially developed and led by nurses to empower communities, increase health promotion environments, promote disease prevention, and make health equity efforts at the community and population level.

The topics of interest include culturally competent care, community-based interventions, health education, policy advocacy, and the integration of social determinants of health into nursing practice.

Emphasis is placed on participatory approaches that engage communities as active partners in health improvement, which also are accepted approaches in community settings, developed by different nurse’s profiles. This Special Issue also addresses innovative nursing education approaches to community and public healthcare.

By showcasing global perspectives and research-driven insights, this Special Issue aims to advance the role of community health nursing within a broader public health framework and other nursing specialties that ultimately contribute to more resilient, equitable, and health-literate communities worldwide.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Pedro Melo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • community health nursing
  • public health nursing
  • community-based care
  • community-based research
  • community empowerment
  • nursing diagnoses
  • nursing interventions
  • nursing outcomes
  • nursing education

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 243 KB  
Article
Determinants of Happiness at Work Among Nurses in Prehospital Emergency Care in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Sandra Neto, Anabela Afonso, José Magalhães, Márcio Silva and Elisabete Borges
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(8), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23081049 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Happiness at work is an important factor associated with nurses’ wellbeing, performance, retention, and quality of care. However, evidence on workplace happiness among nurses working in prehospital emergency care remains scarce, despite the emotional demands and complexity of this setting. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Happiness at work is an important factor associated with nurses’ wellbeing, performance, retention, and quality of care. However, evidence on workplace happiness among nurses working in prehospital emergency care remains scarce, despite the emotional demands and complexity of this setting. This study aimed to analyse overall happiness at work and its dimensions—engagement, job satisfaction, and affective organisational commitment—among nurses working in prehospital emergency care in Portugal and to identify associated sociodemographic and professional factors. A cross-sectional observational, correlational study was conducted between June and July 2025 with 103 nurses working in Portuguese prehospital emergency services. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and professional questionnaire and the Short Happiness at Work Scale. Descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple linear regression were performed. Participants reported moderate levels of happiness at work (M = 4.91; SD = 0.96). Engagement had the highest mean score (M = 5.42; SD = 1.20), whereas job satisfaction had the lowest (M = 4.04; SD = 1.16). Leisure activities outside work were statistically associated with higher happiness at work. These findings should be interpreted in light of the cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, and suggest that strategies promoting wellbeing, work–life balance, and psychological recovery may contribute to occupational health among prehospital emergency nurses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach)
12 pages, 319 KB  
Article
Clinical Applicability of a Terminology Subset for Monitoring Child Development from Zero Months to Age Three: An Observational Study
by Mariane Mota Dhein, Soraia Matilde Marques Buchhorn, Maria de La Ó Ramallo Veríssimo, Francine Dutra Mattei, Sabrina do Rocio Kopietz Cremonez and Marcia Regina Cubas
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(8), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23081048 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 256
Abstract
Child development monitoring by nurses enables the identification of alterations and early interventions. This study analyzed the clinical applicability of a terminology subset for monitoring the development of children aged zero to three years during nursing consultations. This is a cross-sectional, observational study [...] Read more.
Child development monitoring by nurses enables the identification of alterations and early interventions. This study analyzed the clinical applicability of a terminology subset for monitoring the development of children aged zero to three years during nursing consultations. This is a cross-sectional, observational study that analyzed the applicability of a terminology subset. Three stages of the clinical applicability analysis method for terminology subsets were followed: development of the data collection instrument; systematic observation of 46 consultations in two Brazilian municipalities; and data organization and analysis. Nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions observed at least once during a consultation were considered applicable. Of the analyzed subset, 64.7% of the diagnoses/outcomes and 21.3% of the interventions were observed during consultations and are applicable to clinical practice. Notably, the diagnosis “Child development, effective” was identified in 93% of the consultations. The data suggest the applicability of the subset in specific Brazilian primary healthcare contexts, predominantly with healthy children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach)
16 pages, 1826 KB  
Article
Empowerment and Community Process Diagnosis to Promote Epidemiological Surveillance of Nursing Diagnoses: A MAIEC-Based Study in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal
by Pedro Melo, Renata Silva, Flávio Vieira, Susana Barbeitos, Susana Figueiredo and Sandra Silva
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(7), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070830 - 24 Jun 2026
Viewed by 1223
Abstract
This study assessed community process and empowerment in a Primary Healthcare Island Unit in the Azores to support the implementation of Epidemiological Surveillance of Nursing Diagnoses (ESND), focusing on three priority areas: tobacco use, drug dependence, and adolescent decision-making related to sexuality and [...] Read more.
This study assessed community process and empowerment in a Primary Healthcare Island Unit in the Azores to support the implementation of Epidemiological Surveillance of Nursing Diagnoses (ESND), focusing on three priority areas: tobacco use, drug dependence, and adolescent decision-making related to sexuality and life planning. Strengthening the visibility of nursing-sensitive phenomena requires integrating nursing diagnoses into epidemiological surveillance systems. A multimethod descriptive study was conducted between September and November 2025, combining document analysis, a community empowerment assessment, and a structured questionnaire. The total population included 328 nurses, with 172 participants (response rate: 52.4%) using a non-probabilistic sampling approach. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations). Priority nursing foci were identified according to the ICNP® 2019 classification: tobacco use, drug dependence, and decision-making process related to sexuality and life planning. Results showed that all three dimensions of the MAIEC were weak: community leadership was limited, particularly in knowledge indicators; participation was constrained by unclear organizational structures and insufficient communication; and coping capacity was insufficient due to limited training and experience. Empowerment assessment confirmed structural weaknesses in leadership, organizational support, and resource mobilization. Overall, the community process and empowerment profile indicate that the conditions required to sustain ESND are not yet sufficiently developed. Strengthening leadership, improving communication, and expanding training in ESND and ICNP® documentation are essential to support nurse-centered surveillance and enhance the visibility of nursing contributions to population health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach)
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16 pages, 298 KB  
Article
Exploring Community Roles in Managing Childhood Illnesses in Vhembe District, Limpopo: Perspectives from Nurses and Caregivers
by Livhuwani Tshivhase and Idah Moyo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(11), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111757 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1071
Abstract
Despite notable progress in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where many children under five die before accessing formal healthcare services. This study explored the roles of the community in the implementation of [...] Read more.
Despite notable progress in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where many children under five die before accessing formal healthcare services. This study explored the roles of the community in the implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) programme from the perspectives of caregivers and professional nurses. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis design, 18 participants were purposively selected from four primary healthcare facilities. Data was collected through audio-recorded interviews, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the IPA framework. The findings underscore the critical role of community health workers (CHWs) within the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) framework, particularly in health promotion, child assessments and follow-up home visits. Support from early childhood development educators and community leaders further enhances these efforts. Nurses highlighted mobile health teams as vital for delivering integrated services, though challenges such as limited transport and inadequate training hinder CHWs’ effectiveness. Community-based care offers a cost-effective, accessible model in low-resource settings by leveraging local structures. Strengthening the connection between communities and formal health systems is essential. To sustain IMCI, investment in CHW-led initiatives, including training and logistical support, is recommended to improve service delivery and child health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach)

Review

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16 pages, 983 KB  
Review
Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure in Hospital Environments: A Scoping Review of Occupational Risks Among Healthcare Workers, with Particular Implications for Nursing
by Otniel Alencar Bandeira, Lucas Barros de Araújo, Aline Franco da Rocha, Estefanía Coello Gonçalves Canedo, Vivian Vílchez Barboza, Weber da Silva Robazza, Gabriela Frutuozo Müller, Gilberto Costa Teodozio and Maria Lúcia do Carmo Cruz Robazzi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(9), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23091113 - 27 Aug 2026
Viewed by 35
Abstract
The extensive use of plastic-based materials in healthcare services has raised concerns about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in hospital environments, with potential implications for occupational health, environmental health, and public health nursing. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on occupational [...] Read more.
The extensive use of plastic-based materials in healthcare services has raised concerns about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in hospital environments, with potential implications for occupational health, environmental health, and public health nursing. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on occupational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in healthcare settings, identifying exposure sources, pathways, potential health implications, and knowledge gaps, with particular attention to healthcare workers and nursing professionals. It was conducted following JBI methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO for original studies published between January 2015 and December 2025 in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Of 759 records identified, six studies met the eligibility criteria. Evidence was derived mainly from high-complexity healthcare settings, including operating theatres, anaesthetic rooms, laboratories, emergency departments, physiotherapy units, intensive care units, blood banks, and clinical areas. Indoor air, settled dust, disposable medical devices, plastic packaging, personal protective equipment, and plasticised materials were identified as potential exposure sources. Inhalation was the most frequently reported/inferred pathway, followed by dermal contact and indirect ingestion. Current evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, with scarce direct biomonitoring of micro- and nanoplastic particles and limited epidemiological data. Hospital environments may represent under-recognised settings for occupational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, requiring standardised exposure assessment, environmental surveillance, biomonitoring, and preventive strategies aligned with occupational and public health nursing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Health Nursing and Public Health Approach)
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