Assignment: Foundation of Health Promotion: Exploring the Concepts of Health

Assignment: Foundation of Health Promotion: Exploring the Concepts of Health

Assignment: Foundation of Health Promotion: Exploring the Concepts of Health

Exploring the concepts of health: Why is the way an individual defines health and health problems important? What are the implications for advanced practice nurses? Which theoretical model of health is of particular interest to you? Why?

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Foundation of Health Promotion: Exploring the Concepts of Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health as “not merely the absence of disease” but a more wholesome state of wellness. However, health experts are of the opinion that this definition is now too simplistic and needs to be revised in light of the current global dispensation and epidemiological landscape (Leonardi, 2018). It has not been an easy task to get consensus on an alternative definition of health in the way that the WHO definition was accepted across the world. This is partly because different people define health in their own perspectives. It is for this reason that the way an individual defines health is important as it affects the way they live and look after themselves. The purpose of this paper is to find out the importance of the way an individual defines health from an individual standpoint.

Why the Way an Individual Defines Health and Health Problems is Important

The way a person defines health and health problems is very important. The reason for this is that their definition determines their beliefs, attitudes, and practices. For instance, if the definition refers to being healthy as the lack of physical illness, the person would disregard symptoms of mental illness such as anxiety and stress because in their thinking that is not part of not being well. In the same manner, they will also engage in behavior that is likely to cause mental illness just because they believe only physical illness constitutes not being well. Such behavior may include abusing alcohol in the name of having fun, gambling, and reckless impulsive sexual behavior amongst others.

The way a person defines health also mirrors their social determinants of health. These include educational achievement, socioeconomic status, living conditions, and access to quality healthcare (Powell, 2016). Low educational achievement gives one a narrow view of health and makes it difficult for them to fully understand what the meaning of health is. A poor person may also not be able to access quality healthcare and thus miss out on exceptional health education that would open up their minds as to the correct definition of health. Lastly but not least, a narrow view of what health is would make one live in conditions that are detrimental to health just because they do not appreciate the broad definition of health.

Implications for Advanced Practice Nurses

The implications for advanced practice nurses are far-reaching. For instance, it is incumbent upon the APNs to educate their patients on the broadness of health and being healthy. This educational role is an important role for all nurses as it has a preventive component. The other implication is that APNs are advocates for all patients. Because of this they are supposed to engage in policy advocacy for the benefit of both patients and the profession of nursing (Milstead & Short, 2019). This is why APNs must strive to educate patients on the definition and broadness of health.

Theoretical Model

The theoretical model of particular importance to me is that presented by the WHO. It states that health is a concept that excludes both physical and psychological illnesses. In other words, it is being wholesome all round. This is what may be referred to as holistic wellness. The reason why I choose this model is because it is the only model that has gained widespread acceptance across the board (Leonardi, 2018). It is also the model that serves as the point of reference when the definition of health is mentioned.

Conclusion

Health is an abstract concept that is not easy to define. The WHO as an authoritative global body was the first organization to come up with a definition of health that gained widespread acceptance by experts and healthcare professionals across the world. However, different individuals have different definitions for heath and this affects how they behave, what they believe, and what they do. This also has implications for the APN who is tasked with an advocacy role for better healthcare policies that favor health.

References

Leonardi, F. (2018). The definition of health: Towards new perspectives. International Journal of Health Services, 0(0), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731418782653 

Milstead, J. & Short, N. (2019). Health policy and politics: a nurse’s guide, 6^th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Powell, D.L. (2016). Social determinants of health: Cultural competence is not enough. Creative Nursing, 24(1), 5-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.22.1.5