Nursing Foundation Unit I

1. NURSING FOUNDATION
CONCEPT OF HEALTH, FACTORS
INFLUENCING HEALTH
Mr. Melvin Jacob
MSc (Nursing)
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2. Introduction
The state of one's health is reflective of
an individual's ability to meet life's challenges
and maintain his or her capacity for optimal
functioning. This requires the various aspects of
one's makeup i.e. mental, physical and
biochemical, to maintain a level of functioning
that has a positive influence and support for one
another.
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3. DEFINITION
The World Health Organization (WHO)
defines health as a “state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being, not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
(WHO, 1947).
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4. CONCEPT OF HEALTH
Health is a common theme in most
cultures. All communities have their concept
of health, as a part of their culture. Oldest
definition of health in all communities is
“absence of disease”.
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5. • The various changing concepts of health as
follows:
1. Biomedical concept
2. Ecological concept
3. Psychosocial concept
4. Holistic concept
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6. 1. BIOMEDICAL CONCEPT
• Traditionally health has been considered as an absence of
the diseases
• it is based on the “germ theory of the disease.”
• The medical profession viewed the human body as a
machine and disease is an outcome of the breakdown of
the machine, and one of the doctor’s tasks was to repair
the machine.
• This concept has minimized the role of the environment,
social and cultural determinants of the health.
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7. 2. ECOLOGICAL CONCEPT
• Health implies relative absence of pain and
discomfort and a continuous adaptation to the
environment to ensure optimal function.
• This viewed health as a dynamic equilibrium
between man &his environment.
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8. 3. PSYCHOSOCIAL CONCEPT
• Advances in social sciences showed that health is
not only a biomedical phenomenon, but one which
is influenced by social, psychological, cultural,
economic and political factors of the people
concerned.
• Thus health is both a biological and
social phenomenon
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9. 4. HOLISTIC CONCEPT
• The holistic approach implies that all sectors of
the society have an effect on health, in
particular, agriculture, animal husbandry, food,
industry, education, housing, public works and
other sectors.
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10. HEALTH ILLNESS CONTINUUM
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11. The health illness continuum is a graphic
illustration of a well being ,concept first proposed by
John. W . Travis in 1972.
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12. The health-illness continuum illustrates this process
of change, in which the individual experiences various
states of health and illness (ranging from extremely
good health to death) that fluctuate throughout his life.
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13. .
Composed of two arrows pointing in opposite direction and
joined at a neutral point.
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14.  Movement to the right of the arrows (toward
the high level of wellness) equals an increase
in level of health and wellbeing
• Achieved in three steps ,
• Awareness
• Education
• Growth
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15.  Movement to the left to the arrows (towards
premature death) equates a progressively
decreasing state of health.
• Achieved in three steps,
• Signs
• Symptoms
• Disability
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16.  Most important is the direction that the individual
facing on the pathway
A.If towards high level of health , a person has
genuinely optimistic or positive out look despite
his/ her health status.
B.If towards premature death , a person has a
genuinely pessimistic or negative out look about
his or her health status.
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17. .
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18.  Compares treatment model with a wellness model,
If treatment model is used ,an individual can move right
only to the neutral point.
• Eg: A hypertensive client who only takes his medications
without making any other life style changes.
If wellness model is used , an individual can move right
passing the neutral point.
• Eg :As hypertensive client not only takes medications but
stops smoking , looses weight , starts an exercise
programme etc.
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19. FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH
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20. The factors which determine the health of
an individual are many. Some are inside the
body (genetic) and some are outside the body
(environmental factors).
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21. Genetic
• The health of the human being is to some extent
is determined by genetic constitutional that take
place at the time of consumption. Once the
constitution of genes take place its permanent
and cannot be altered.
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23. Environmental
• Internal environment is constituted by various organs
and systems of the body.
• The external environment is made up of
 physical (air, soil, water)
 Biological( plants, animals)
 social(culture, beliefs ,tradition)
• Any disturbance either in the internal or external
environment disturbs the health of the individuals .
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24. Other factors affecting
• Life style
• Socioeconomic Conditions
• Education
• Occupation
• Income
• Health services
• Personal hygiene
• Exercise cont….
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25. • Rest and sleep
• Posture
• Clean home environment
• Influence of smoking, alcohol and drugs
• Climate and clothing
• Safety measures at play and work
• Our eating habits
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26. Conclusion
• The Illness-Wellness Continuum has been viewed as
promoting preventive treatment, which improves
wellbeing before an individual presents with signs or
symptoms of illness, as well as educating people to be
aware of and avoid risk factors, in order to protect
against pathology and premature death.
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28. Recapitalisation
• Define health ?
• What are the concepts of health ?
• Explain about health illness continuum?
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29. Reference
• Helen Harkreader. Fundamentals of nursing
caring and clinical judgement. Elsevier
publication St. Louis: 2009;(3).
• Annamma Jacob, Rekha R. clinical nursing
procedures the art of nursing practice. Jaypee
publications Newdelhi: 2015; (3)
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