The Concept Of “Health”
- Discuss how the concept of “health” has changed over time.
- Discuss how the concept has evolved to include wellness, illness, and overall well-being. How has health promotion changed over time?
- Why is it important that nurses implement health promotion interventions based on evidence-based practice?
The Concept of “Health”
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The Concept of “Health”
The concept of health is multifaceted and entails numerous dimensions of well-being. It enlarges beyond the mere absence of infirmity and embodies physical, mental, and social aspects of an individual’s life. Health is an emphatic multi-dimensional concept entailing a variety of characteristics, varying from ability to integrity, from fitness to well-being. According to Andrea (2018), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disorder or infirmity. Physical health is the body’s overall condition, including the ability to function flawlessly and resist infirmities. Mental health entails emotional and psychological well-being, involving an individual’s ability to subsist with stress, maintain emphatic relationships, and achieve fulfillment. In addition, social health emphasizes the significance of interpersonal relations, social support, and the ability to involve in meaningful interactions within an individual’s community. The concept of health also recognizes the impact of environmental factors, like access to clean air and water, safe living conditions, and impartial healthcare services. Inclusively, health represents an aggregate state of stability and harmony, assisting individuals in leading fulfilling lives and subscribing to the well-being of society as a whole. This paper explores how the concept of health has changed over time, how it has evolved to include wellness, illness, and overall well-being, how health promotion has changed over time, and why nurses must implement health promotion interventions based on evidence-based practice.
The Concept of Health-Changing Overtime
The concept of health has developed crucially over time, reflecting changes in our comprehension, societal values, and advancements in medical knowledge. In traditional civilizations, health was frequently linked with the balance of bodily humor and was closely associated with spiritual beliefs (Gurung, 2019). As scientific comprehension advanced, the aim shifted to physical well-being and preventing infirmities through enhanced sanitation and hygiene practices. In the 20th century, the definition of health dilated to involve mental and social aspects, recognizing the unified physical, mental, and social well-being. With the rise of chronic disorders and lifestyle-linked status, there has been a developing emphasis on preventive care, healthy lifestyle choices, and aggregate perspectives on health. Today, health is not merely the truancy of infirmity but embraces a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It identifies the significance of proactive self-care, individualized medicine, and the integration of ancient and alternative healing techniques. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of public health measures, vaccination, and world health collaboration, emphasizing the interconnected logic of health globally (Chattu & Chami, 2020). The concept of health has developed from a narrow aim at physical well-being to an inclusive comprehension of comprehensive health, including multiple dimensions of well-being and suggesting prevention, self-care, and a cooperative perspective on healthcare.
The Concept of Health Evolving to Include Wellness, Illness, and Overall Well-being
The concept of health has developed over time, progressing beyond the ancient comprehension of the absence of infirmity or illness to include a broader approach, including wellness, illness, and overall well-being. The shift in thinking reflects a more comprehensive perspective on health, considering numerous dimensions of human encounters and recognizing that health extends beyond mere physical well-being. Wellness is a fundamental part of the developed concept of health. It highlights the proactive standards and lifestyle choices that foster optimal physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Rather than solely aiming at treating illness, the emphasis is on maintaining and improving overall wellness through healthy habits like exercising regularly, having a balanced diet, managing stress, and self-care. According to Oliver et al. (2018), wellness entails a range of factors like physical fitness, mental clarity, emotional stability, social relation, and spiritual fulfillment. The involvement of infirmity in the concept of health identifies that the absence of disorder does not solely determine health. Infirmity is a state of being unwell or encountering a specific health condition or disorder (Whysall et al., 2018). The comprehension of illness recognizes that individuals may experience numerous health difficulties throughout their lives, and addressing these difficulties is a crucial aspect of overall health.
Overall well-being is an inclusive and multifaceted aspect of the advanced concept of health. It involves an individual’s life’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. Overall well-being progresses beyond the absence of infirmity and extends to the presence of decisive factors, contributing to a fulfilling and meaningful life (Ruggeri et al., 2020). It entails encountering a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and happiness, maintaining emphatic relationships, having a supportive social network, and finding stability and harmony in numerous aspects of life. The development of the concept of health to include wellness, illness, and overall well-being recognizes the interplay between the dimensions. It acknowledges that physical health can impact mental and emotional well-being. It also highlights the significance of preventive mechanisms and proactive self-care to foster optimal health and well-being. The advancement of the concept of health reflects a more inclusive and holistic approach, acknowledging that health entails not only the absence of infirmity but also the promotion of wellness and overall well-being in all aspects of an individual’s life.
Health Promotion Changing Overtime
Health promotion has advanced crucially over time, reflecting a dynamic interplay of societal, scientific, and technological development. Historically, health promotion is mainly aimed at individual behavior change, suggesting individual accountability and equipping information to assist healthier choices (Edelman & Kudzma, 2021). Moreover, as our comprehension of health determinates expanded, so did the scope of health promotion. Its modality shifted towards a more inclusive perspective, acknowledging the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health results. Cooperative efforts emerged, involving multiple sectors, addressing systematic problems and fostering health equity. The advent of digital technology and the widespread use of social media further changed health promotion, equipping new avenues for disseminating information, promoting online communities, and encouraging individuals to participate ardently in their health. However, there has been a developing emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and addressing underlying health conditions instead of solely aiming at treatment. This inclusive and holistic perspective to health promotion has achieved identification, underscoring the significance of empowering individuals, fostering social justice, and developing supportive environments, enabling healthier choices.
Importance of Nurses Implementing Health Promotion Interventions Based on Evidence-Based Practice
It is significant for nurses to implement health promotion interventions based on evidence-based practice because of numerous reasons. At first, evidence-based practice ensures that nursing interventions are rooted in the best obtainable scientific evidence, combining research outcomes with clinical expertise and patient preferences. Using evidence-based intervention, nurses can positively equip high-quality care and foster emphatic health results (Tucker et al., 2021). Secondly, evidence-based practice fosters the use of rigorously tested and proven effectual interventions, thus lessening the risk of harm or unsuccessful treatment. This perspective improves patient safety and lessens healthcare costs by avoiding unappropriated or potentially harmful interventions. In addition, executing evidence-based health promotion interventions assists nurses in staying updated with the latest developments in healthcare, promoting a culture of lifelong learning and professional development (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2022). By progressively assessing and integrating new evidence into practice, nurses can adapt their interventions to meet the advancing needs of patients and the healthcare network. Embodying evidence-based practices into health promotion interventions empowers nurses to equip evidence-informed care, enhance patient outcomes, and subscribe to the development of nursing as a respected and evidence-driven profession.
Conclusion
The concept of health has undergone crucial changes over time, advancing to entail more than just the absence of infirmity. It now includes a broader approach, embodying wellness, infirmity management, and overall well-being. Health promotion, as an essential aspect of healthcare, has also advanced over the decades, suggesting the proactive perspective to prevent disorders and foster optimal health. Nurses play a crucial role in executing evidence-based health promotion interventions, ensuring the delivery of effectual and efficient care. By integrating evidence-based practices into their interventions, nurses can equip the most current and scientifically validated procedures, eventually enhancing patient outcomes and fostering long-term well-being. Nurses must embrace evidence-based practices in health promotion, addressing the dynamic logic of health and supporting individuals in gaining their highest level of health and well-being.
References
Andrea, A. C. (2018). Historical evolution of the concept of health in Western medicine. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 89(3), 352.
Chattu, V. K., & Chami, G. (2020). Global health diplomacy amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a strategic opportunity for improving health, peace, and well-being in the CARICOM Region—a systematic review. Social Sciences, 9(5), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9050088
Edelman, C., & Kudzma, E. C. (2021). Health promotion throughout the life span-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Gurung, R. A. (2019). Cultural influences on health. Cross‐Cultural Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives, 451-466. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119519348.ch21
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2022). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Oliver, M. D., Baldwin, D. R., & Datta, S. (2018). Health to Wellness: A review of wellness models and transitioning back to Health. The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 9(1), 41.
Ruggeri, K., Garcia-Garzon, E., Maguire, Á., Matz, S., & Huppert, F. A. (2020). Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: a multidimensional analysis of 21 countries. Health and quality of life outcomes, 18(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01423-y
Tucker, S., McNett, M., Mazurek Melnyk, B., Hanrahan, K., Hunter, S. C., Kim, B., … & Kitson, A. (2021). Implementation science: Application of evidence‐based practice models to improve healthcare quality. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 18(2), 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12495
Whysall, Z., Bowden, J., & Hewitt, M. (2018). Sickness presenteeism: measurement and management challenges. Ergonomics, 61(3), 341-354. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2017.1365949
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