Theories In Health Education

Pender’s Health Promotion Theory (Nola J.

Pender)
 I committed myself to the proactive stance
of health promotion and disease prevention
with the conviction that it is much better to
experience exuberant well being and
prevent disease than let disease happen
when it is avoidable and then try and cope
with it.
 Health promotion and disease prevention
should be the primary focus in health care.
When health promotion and prevention fail
to prevent problems, then care in illness
becomes the next priority.
 Emphasizes actualizing health potential and
increasing the level of well-being using
health-promoting behaviors rather than
avoidance of disease behaviors.

Health Promotion
 is defined as a behavior motivated by the
desire to increase well-being and actualize
human health potential. It is an approach to
health.
Health Protection or Illness Prevention
 is described as behavior motivated desire to
actively avoid illness, detect it early, or
maintain functioning within the constraints
of illness

Health Promotion Theory

 Individual Characteristics & Experiences
Personal Factors
 Prior behavior and acquired characteristics
INFLUENCE beliefs and enactment of
health-promoting behavior

 Behavior-specific Cognitions & Affect

Perception
 Drive or constrain commitment to
enactment of health-promoting behavior

 Behavioral Outcome
Plan of Action
 A commitment to an action and planned
strategy that leads to implementing health
behavior.