CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PRIORITIES

1. Nature of the problem

Categorized into:
▪ Wellness state/potential
o Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making
choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than
being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.
o "...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
- The World Health Organization
▪ Health threat – are conditions conducive to disease, accident or failure to
realize one’s potential.
▪ Examples:
o Family of with history of hereditary disease
o Threat of cross infection
o Accident hazards
o Faulty eating habits
o Poor environment sanitation
o Unhealthy lifestyle/personal habits

▪ Health deficit
o A gap between actual and achievable health status
o Instances of failure in health maintenance
o Possible precursors of health deficit:
1. History of repeated miscarriages
2. No regular check up
Examples:
✔ Illness states diagnosed or undiagnosed
✔ Failure to thrive/develop
✔ Disability
✔ Transient (aphasia or temporary paralysis after CVA)
✔ Permanent leg amputation secondary to diabetes mellitus,
blindness from measles, lameness from Polio

▪ Forseeable crisis – anticipated periods of unusual demand on the individual

or family in terms of adjustment/family/ resources
▪ Example :
o Marriage
o Pregnancy
o Parenthood
o Divorce or separation
o Loss of job
o Menopause
o death