BARRIERS TO HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Despite the central role hospitals have in the health care system, rel atively few health promotion activities are conducted in Australian pu blic hospitals. This study investigated the types of obstacles that we re perceived to inhibit health promotion activities in hospitals. A qu estionnaire for self-completion was sent to medical superintendents in all public hospitals in Queensland and 112 questionnaires were return ed (92.6 per cent response rate). The results indicated that lack of f inance, lack of interest by relevant others, and needs (for appropriat e programs, training and patient receptivity) were the barriers report ed by superintendents. The barriers of 'interest' and 'needs' were rel ated to a lack of written policies in some areas, but not directly to levels of other health promotion activities being conduced in the hosp itals. Success in facilitating health promotion programs in hospitals will need to include a change in the environment, in particular the vi ews of medical superintendents. The combination of attitude change and the availability of a motivated person (such as a health promotion of ficer) to lead the activities may be needed in order to produce an inc rease in the level of health promotion in public hospitals.