4 - Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Quality of Life

Abstract

This chapter discusses health promotion; disease prevention; and quality of life. The chapter outlines the history of health promotion and disease promotion. According to WHO, health promotion represents a mediating strategy between people and their environments, synthesizing personal choice and social responsibility in health to create a healthier future. The chapter describes the various components of health promotion: disease prevention, health education, public health, and community development. A model of health that is synonymous with quality of life is presented, which allows for a range of both health promotion and disease prevention activities and cultural variation. A review of the literature on health promotion programs across the cultures and countries of the world indicates numerous programs in the developed countries, particularly for the majority cultures in each, and far fewer programs in the developing and least developed countries. The chapter describes a broad array of health promotion and disease prevention programs that exemplify the many approaches used: personal, group, organization, community, or media approach.