Topic 3 DQ 1
Evolution of Health
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Institutional Affiliation
Date
Evolution of health
The concept of health has drastically changed over the years. This change has been from the treatment of a disease to advance prevention of the same illness using improved measures (Johnson, 2015). Today, the population is at an increased risk of contracting an illness due to the situation of illnesses becoming common. The situation has also increased people’s concern over their wellbeing. Measures put by the government to reduce the risk of individuals and communities in general from getting sick include creating health insurance and promotion strategies and developing programs to create awareness (Johnson, 2015). These initiatives have significantly improved people’s health and healthcare system.
This evolution and advancement have changed the definition of health. Health is no longer a mere absence of illness but a situation of having total social, physical, and mental wellbeing. This new definition emphasizes clinical intervention and diagnosis, unlike the traditional health model which focused on the absence of diseases. Health is linked with wellbeing and requires resources to attain and retain. Expansion of the definitions of health has improved the appreciation of mental health as an integral part of public wellbeing. An example of health advancement is the 2006 report for better mental health that recommends proper practice for the improvement of health in local populations (Carson et al., 2015).
According to the evidence-based practice, health promotion by nurses in important in identifying diseases and their causes. Nurses could provide counselling and mentorship to encourage patients to engage in healthy lifestyles. The involvement of nurses in disease prevention has made cost-effective care services available and a reduction in chronic diseases. Health promotion will help improve patient outcomes and patients self-management of their illnesses. Evidence-based practice involves the application of previously successful methods of illnesses intervention (Rolfe, 2015). Nurses promoting the use of the evidence-based practice is, therefore, a vital platform for health promotion.
References
Carson, D., Bidargaddi, N., Schrader, G., Allison, S., Jones, G. M., Bastiampillai, T., & Strobel, J. (2015). Geography of Primary Mental Health Care through the Better Access Initiative in South Australia 2006-2010. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 24(3), 188-192. doi:10.1111/ajr.12237
Johnson, R. A. (2015). Health: Concept. Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, 1-11. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_218-1
Rolfe, G. (2015). Evidence-based Practice and Practice-Based Evidence. Exploring Evidence-based Practice, 99-112. doi:10.4324/9781315764559-8
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