Health Promotion Approaches and Strategies Lifestylebehavioural approaches Various

Health Promotion Approaches and Strategies Lifestyle/behavioural approaches Various programs target an individual’s lifestyle and behaviour in order to improve their health. • These programs aim to develop individual skills to empower people to take control of their behaviour and attitudes. • Lifestyle/behavioural approaches ensure that individuals: Ø Develop accurate knowledge about the health consequences of their lifestyle behaviour, eg. ___________________________________ Ø Find personal meaning and relevance in changing their behaviour/lifestyle, eg. ___________________________________ • ØFeel positive towards the outcomes of their behaviour change—feeling a sense of achievement as they reach milestones. ØAre empowered in their ability to make the behaviour change. ØAre accepted by their peers and communities positively as a result of their behaviour change. ØAre equipped with skills to cope with difficult situations or relapses to their previous lifestyle/behavioural patterns.

Preventative Medical Approaches � Many illnesses and diseases can be prevented using vaccinations and health screenings. � Using these measures can protect people from developing certain health issues. � If an individual has a genetic predisposition to a particular health problem, preventative measures can be put in place to reduce the likelihood of the illness or disease occurring. � Preventative approaches include childhood immunisation and cancer screenings. These approaches have proven to be effective in enhancing the health of individuals. Immunisation � Immunisations are recommended for population groups who are at higher risk from vaccine-preventable diseases. � The government funds some vaccinations free of charge, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination that protects young women and girls against most cervical cancers. � While immunisation is clearly a preventative measure and considered a preventative medical approach, it is also considered a public health measure as it can be administered through public health programs.

Public Health Approach � Public health approaches are undertaken on a large scale. They seek to include a large number of people with maximum involvement. Usually these approaches endeavour to improve the health and safety of all individuals by addressing underlying risk factors. � Public health approaches try to encompass whole communities to embrace positive behaviour change. � A number of public health approaches have been used in Australia, such as health promoting schools and Work. Cover. � These approaches are implemented on a mass scale to ensure maximum involvement and coverage of individuals. Health-promoting schools � The approach focuses on the interaction between health and education sectors to improve the health of children and young people. � It has an organised set of policies, practices, activities and structures, designed to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of students, staff and the wider school community members, while providing consistent messages to school, home and within the community. � A health-promoting school encompasses three important areas that interrelate intrinsically to enhance the health and learning outcomes of its community.

Questions �Consider the ways health is promoted in the school environment. Categorise each way as an example of a lifestyle/behavioural approach, preventative medical approach or public health approach. �Construct a list of health promotion strategies aimed at young people. Discuss which are most effective at changing behaviour and why.

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