The Definition of Health: Towards New Perspectives

Abstract

The definition of health is not just a theoretical issue, because it has many implications for practice, policy, and health services. The current definition of health, formulated by the WHO, is no longer adequate for dealing with the new challenges in health care systems. Despite many attempts to replace it, no alternative definition has reached a wide level of consensus. Assuming an epistemological perspective, the need for a unique definition has to be rejected in favor of a plural approach in which cannot exist the best definition of health but many different definitions, more or less useful depending on the scope of application. Nevertheless, it should be noted that not all potential definitions of health are fit to pursue clinical scientific goals. Based on recent scientific debate, one can maintain that each definition of health should have at least 9 features to work well within the clinical scientific field. Moving from this perspective, a new definition has been developed for pursuing health, especially in the fields of chronic patients and older people.

Keywords: chronic illness; definition of health; health; health education; health promotion; older people.