Indicators of adolescent health: expanding the framework for assessing health status among young people.

Abstract

Determination of indicators to measure adolescent health status is guided by the purpose and use of the research. For example the research can facilitate 1) health service planning and management 2) health promotion and disease prevention 3) health protection or 4) research and theory development and each of these perspectives entails use of a substantial range of potential indicators. This paper 1) distinguishes between different types of health indicators 2) illustrates the interrelationship among health indicators and 3) illustrates how indicators can be linked to health services and health promotion interventions. Thus an outcome model for health promotion is offered that identifies which types of indicators can be used for three broad types of outcome. For health and social outcomes the proposed indicators are quality of life functional independence equity mortality morbidity and disability. For intermediate health outcomes the indicators are health lifestyles effective health services and healthy environments. For health promotion outcomes the indicators are health literacy social influence and action and healthy public policy as well as organizational practice. The model highlights complexities between health promotion action and eventual health outcomes and offers an expanded view of health promotion.