Five Approaches To Health Promotion Research

The World Health Organisation (1986) defines health promotion ‘as enabling people to gain control over their lives.’ (World Heath Organisation, 1986. p72). This is linked with five approaches which are medical, behaviour change, educational, empowerment and social change. All of these approaches have one important aim of providing enough information and teach people the right skills to be able to make the right health choice that will benefit them the most. In relation to the medical approach Naidoo & Wills (2009) suggests that ‘this kind of health promotion seeks to increase medical interventions which will prevent ill health and premature death.’ (Naidoo & Wills, 2009. p 68). Intervention involves educating people on the risks of disease

(NHS, 2014). Medical approach is linked with behaviour change because it is about trying to influence people to have a healthier lifestyle. This can range from encouraging people to eat healthier foods for example more fruit and vegetables in their diet, to adding exercise to their day to day routine. Naidoo &Wills (2009) make the assumption that individual’s health can be improved by making slight changes to their lifestyle. Unlike the behaviour change approach, the educational approach is all about providing the individual with the right information and the correct amount of knowledge to be able to make their own decision about how they could make their behaviour and lifestyle. Their decision will not be influenced by anybody for example a health care professional. They can make their decision by reading leaflets or booklets and by seeking advice from there health care practitioner for example their GP. The empowerment approach is a way of helping individuals to identify and accept that their lifestyle or health behaviour needs to change, in order to have a more positive and healthy