Health promotion in the medical curriculum: enhancing its potential

Abstract

The medical profession has a central role in contributing to public health. An expanding role for doctors in terms of health is clearly indicated by their anticipated contributions to health improvement programmes, primary care groups, healthy living centres and health-action zones. These initiatives all require doctors to contribute to planning health promotion activities for local populations. It is timely with the recent publication of the Government's public health strategy Saving Lives-Our Healthier Nation to consider how best to integrate health promotion into medical education. This paper outlines key issues that underpin sound health promotion practice. These areas are equity, effectiveness and collaborative working. Evidence from the literature, research, policy and practice is used to demonstrate how these areas could be integrated appropriately into the medical curriculum. A series of vignettes is presented for teachers to use to enhance the effective delivery of health promotion for medical students.