A framework of policy development is presented that identifies the role various forms of knowledge can play in the policy formation process. The framework is based upon the premise that public health and health promotion issues should be addressed within an analysis of policy change that considers concepts of interactive and critical knowledge in addition to scientific knowledge. Progress in de...

Behavioural change remains a popular intervention strategy for environmental health promotion in developing countries. This article explores the question of why behavioural change interventions continue to be widely used as an intervention strategy in developing countries and highlights the political implications of this approach. It suggests that framing interventions within a mainstream envir...

This paper presents theoretical reflections on health promotion in the Brazilian public health context. Some characteristics and problems of the international debate are highlighted, but our focus is the position of health promotion as it is discussed in the Brazilian health system. We follow the foucauldian perspective of biopower and resistence to discuss the selected texts and documents rela...

The main aim of the paper is to outline the perspective for future developments of the spa treatment in light of demographic transitions characterized by the increasing number of seniors, as well as changing expectations and health needs of younger population. We made a systematic review of literature referring to the experience of Poland, and similar experiences of other countries in Central E...

Gender is a health determinant, but gender itself is influenced, in part, by biological and psychological variables. Understanding gender's influence on health therefore requires an understanding of the determinants of the construct gender. A review of certain gender determinants is presented. The authors consider the modifiability of these determinants and present recommendations about which o...

This paper reports on a study undertaken with health promotion specialists working in the National Health Service in England. In-depth interviews were held with 25 people with the aim of investigating the place of research and evaluation in health promotion practice, the contextual factors that influenced such activity, and ideas about the place of research in future practice. Research for the ...

All organisations have to change to meet challenges or take forward new opportunities. Health organisations are no different; all over the world they face pressures to buy and to provide care that is based on evidence of its effectiveness. This is not a new concept: it is what staff within those organisations have always considered themselves to be doing. What is new is the emphasis that is put...