Health Promotion

Health Promotion

 

Health promotion is defined as the process in which people are enabled to take more control over their health, thus enhancing the quality of their lives. It is the art of enabling people to change their way of life and move to a state of healthy livelihoods. The main means by which to increase health promotion is by addressing employment, income working conditions, food security, and housing. It is all about preventing illnesses, ensuring existing illnesses do not become worse and living a healthy lifestyle. A plan in health promotion can include; a counseling program and education, ensuring timely immunizations, medical check ups and follow ups, lifestyle changes regarding alcohol, smoking and risky behavior, and ensuring intake of balanced diets.

The purpose of health promotion in nursing cannot be understated as nurses play an important role in promoting public health. In the past, the main role of nurses was focused mainly on the treatment of diseases in the physical aspect (Potter, 1993). This seems to be changing as they have become multi-disciplinary, experienced and knowledgeable in health promotion and practice. Thus the main focus now is on the quality of life. The role of nurses includes patient education, consultations, follow-up treatments and illness prevention. In playing these roles they have reduced the symptoms of chronic diseases, improved the availability of health-care services, and have had the experience of clients in heath-care services greatly enhanced. Consequently, health promotion by nurses has led to quite a number of positive health outcomes that include; improved quality of life, imparting of knowledge to patients about their illnesses, self management and adherence by sick individuals.

Nurses are able to detect early if there is a health problem and strategize on ways in which to mitigate it. This has enabled their clients and families to achieve optimal health.  In practicing health promotion nurses have become a good example to the society and thus people are inclined to participate in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. The role of nurses in health promotion has played a major part in achieving a healthy society. The focus on healing has evolved and nurses are charged with ensuring there is no recurrence of a particular condition. This role is fast changing as nurses are the ones who are in constant contact with clients, and are therefore required to offer clients specific activities such as; teaching child safety, alcohol and smoking cessation education, nutritional intake and reduction and stopping indulgence in high risk behaviors.

Nurses are also involved in community activities. This is mainly to promote a sense of emotional wellbeing, which is essential in health promotion. These activities include; supporting policies of non smoking and changes that will lead to healthier selections in cafeterias. In promoting health, nurses routinely talk to their clients about lifestyles and health. This is in order to extend activities that promote health and give education that is essential to health and healthy lifestyles to their client’s family members. In addition, they emphasize to the client about physical and nutritional recommendations. Nurses are also involved in evaluating their communities for factors that might affect healing.

Health promotion has been carried out in various methods as the focus has moved from the physical aspect to include mental and social aspects. It is therefore being addressed in areas like community settings and primary care. Nurses offer guidance and counseling to members of the society on various ways of health promotion mostly incase of illness (primary care) and are involved in implementing behavior change interventions. Warnings in the media by the medical fraternity, accompanied by messages on the dangers of indulgence in risky behaviors, have proven to be an effective way in behavior change intervention (Revenson & Schiaffino, 2000). Nurses, at the community level, create awareness in public forums and community health based organizations on the need for behavior change to promote health. Another effective implementation method is the use of laws that ensure health promoting behaviors. An example is the restriction on smoking in eating establishments and work areas resulting in many smokers trying to quit (Chapman et al., 1999).

Health promotion prevention is classified into three main areas, namely; primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention mainly targets behavior change to prevent the occurrence of illnesses. An example is the establishment of programs targeting HIV-negative individuals to promote use of condoms thus preventing infections. Secondary prevention happens after an individual has been diagnosed with an illness. In this case, focus is mainly on behavior change to prevent progression or reverse the illness or condition. In tertiary prevention the main target is to control the complications of an illness. An example is to get cancer patients to quit smoking in order to enhance their recovery from surgical procedures. Emphasis is mainly on primary prevention as it benefits the health of the population more substantially (Kaplan, 2000).

 

References

Chapman, S. et a,l (1999). The impact of smoke-free workplaces on declining cigarette Consumption in Australia and the United States. American Journal of Public Health 89: 1018–1023

Kaplan, R.M., (2000). Two pathways to prevention. American psychologist 55: 382-396

Potter  P.A., (1993). Fundamentals of nursing. Concepts, Process & Practice 78: 345-363

Revenson, T.A. & Schiaffino, K.M., (2000). Community-based health interventions. Handbook of community psychology. 471-493. New York

 

Last Completed Projects

Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]