Abstract
Visions of health are: monocausal medical vision, psychological, biological, and social vision, and increasingly important, multicausal and multifactorial vision. A tricky concept in the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health (1948) is “well-being.” The humane approach to health is pitched against the classical, medical approach. It continues to search for a (better) vision of health. The dynamic vision is based on adaptability and self-management (Sect. 1).
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) looks at health as a biopsychosocial model, with the human as a holistic unit, and the adaptability of the patient and care-starting point. The ICF is used as a planning instrument for decisions on health care (Sect. 2).
An insight into the state of health of the population is the basis for prevention and care.
The epidemiology focuses on the occurrence of health problems. Etiological, prognostic, and diagnostic factors may provide targets for health improvement. Measurements at the individual level are the basis for decisions at the group and/or population level.
Epidemiological research is performed if no systematically collected statistical data (health statistics and demographic statistics) are available.
Health indicators give a numerical insight into the level of health and illness among the population. Those commonly used are: mortality, (healthy) life expectancy, perceived health, morbidity, multimorbidities, and health inequalities.
Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), activities of daily living (ADLs), and the sickness impact profile (SIP) are all epidemiological sizes.
Perceived health is the functioning on a physical, psychological, and social level and the subjective assessment of health. Years of life lost is the number of years that a person loses because of a health problem.
Morbidity is the percentage of people with a health problem in a population. Incidence is the number of new cases of disease or people with a particular disease occurring during a specific period. Prevalence is the total number of disease cases at any given time or during a period of time.
Many people with a chronic health problem have other health problems at the same time. This is called multimorbidity, and can have an additional negative effect on the quality of life.
Socio-economic health differences exist: in connection with the socio-economic status (SES) and lifestyle habits.
Many health problems (including psychological or those related to lifestyle) are more common in people with a lower socioeconomic status (SES) than in people with a higher SES (Sect. 3).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bouter LM, van Dongen MCJM. Epidemiologisch onderzoek: opzet en interpretatie. 2nd ed. Houten: Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum; 2000.
Breslow L. From disease prevention to health promotion. JAMA. 1999;281(11):1–9.
Hoeymans N, Schellevis FC. Chronische ziekten en multimorbiditeit samengevat. In:Volksgezondheid Toekomst Verkenning, Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid. Bilthoven: RIVM; 2008.
Naess H, Lunde L, Brogger J. The effects of fatigue, pain and depression on quality of life in ischemic stroke patients: the Bergen Stroke Study. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2012;8:407–13.
WHO. Ottawa charter. 1986. www.who.int.
WHO. Resolution on health promotion. 1998. www.who.int.
WHO. The World Health Report 1999: making the difference. Lyon: World Health Organization, WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data; 1999.
WHO. The World Health Report 2002 – reducing risks, promoting healthy life. 2002. www.who.int.
WHO. The World Health Report 2003 – shaping the future. 2003. www.who.int.
WHO. World Health Report. 2012. www.who.int.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sassen, B. (2018). Health, Health Indicators, and Public Health. In: Nursing: Health Education and Improving Patient Self-Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51769-8_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51769-8_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-51768-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-51769-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)