Health Promotion: Concepts and Practice

Health promotion is high on the political agenda – it has been highlighted in the Health Service reforms, achieved recognition as an important dimension of public policy, and has come to be seen as an essential aspect of the work of all health professionals. There is widespread disagreement as to what health promotion is or indeed ought to be. Attempts have been made through academic literature to resolve these uncertainties, largely resulting in further controversy. Such abstract discussions have not been aimed at the specific needs of health professionals such as nurses. This book not only takes up the conceptual challenges but meets the practical demands of health care settings.

Part 1 Introduction: What is health:; Introduction; Thinking about health; Attempts to define health; Defining health; Fitness, wholism and well–being; Conclusion; References; Further reading; What is Health Promotion: Health promotion from first principles; Health promotion in literature; References; Further reading; Social and Political Issues in Health Promotion: Inequalities in health; Making sense of society; Causes of ill–health and the health promotion agenda; Justice and health promotion; Power and health promotion; References; Further reading Ethical Issues in Health Promotion: Health promotion with adults – helping people to stop smoking; Health promotion with people with learning disabilities – working towards an ordinary life; Mental health promotion – early detection of depression in primary care; Promoting children′s health – learning about health eating; Elements of ethical evaluation; Making ethical judgements; References; Further reading; Part 2: Health Promotion – Practice:; Case Studies of Health Promotion with Adults – Nurses working with People Who Wish to Stop Smoking: Introduction; Health costs associated with smoking; Helping people who wish to stop smoking; How coronary care nurses might help patients wanting to give up smoking; How nurses might help patients to stop smoking; Making the choice of not smoking easier; Constraints on people′s choices about smoking; Conclusion; References; Health Promotion and the School Age Child: Educational context; Constraints; Teaching about health; Health promotion; Conclusion; References; Promoting Mental Health: Introduction; Mental health and mental illness; The health of the nation; Mental health targets; Mental health and primary care; Depression and nursing practice; Mental health and hospital nursing; Self–care; Conclusion; Sources of information; References; Promoting Health for People with Learning Difficulties: Introduction; The nature of learning disabilities; The nature of care provision; Maintaining valued and integrated lifestyles; People′s rights; Service design; Proposed model for promoting health and social well–being; Examples of health promotion for people with learning disabilities; Summary and conclusion; References; Promoting Effective Drug Taking by Elderly People in the Community: Introduction; Medicines for the elderly – use, misuse and limitations; Health, medicine and medicine–taking – the elderly individual′s perspective; An alternative approach – working together towards health and effective drug taking; The partnership approach in practice – some personal observations; When ideals conflict – professional v. client aims; Coping with reluctance – self care v. professional care; The accountability dilemma – client empowerment v. client safety; Food Poisoning as a Case study of Health Promotion: Nature of, and necessary conditions, for food poisoning; Circumstances which permit food poisoning; Changing eating habits; Environmental changes; Opportunities for health promotion; Conclusion; References; Homeless Families – A Health Promotion Challenge: Introduction; Numbers of homeless; Homeless families and health in Ealing in 1989; Homelessness and health; Conclusion; References; Health Promotion and Cancer Care: Cancer as a health problem; Cancer as a preventable disease; Cancer care as a context for health promotion; The scope of health promotion in cancer care; References; Health Promotion and Nursing Practice: Shifting the balance of effort and resources; Public and community health; Collaboration; Communication strategies; Changing behaviours; Can we adopt health promotion in nursing?; Reference; Appendix: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion Appendix: Useful Addresses Index