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The main function of health improvement is to find ways of preventing ill-health, protecting good health and promoting better health – this is closely linked to quality of life and the concept of well being. One way of approaching health improvement is by taking co-ordinated action across 3 areas as described in 'Towards a Healthier Scotland' (1999). They are:
Life circumstances
These are external factors which impact on health and well being. They can affect health directly, or indirectly, by limiting choice and opportunity. They include unemployment, poverty, poor housing, limited educational achievement, the environment and social networks.
Lifestyle
Refers to the health behaviours we choose to adopt. These can either be positive and health enhancing such as undertaking regular physical activity/eating healthily; or negative and life threatening such as smoking and misuse of alcohol.
Health topics
These highlight areas which are important to tackle if we hope to bring about a change in the health of the population. Currently they include Child Health, Dental and Oral Health, Sexual Health, Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, Mental Health and Accidents and Safety.
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