WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HEALTH DEFINITION? A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH AND HEALTH STATUS
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HEALTH DEFINITION? A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH AND HEALTH STATUS

Author(s): Paula Viziteu
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: health dimensions; health statistics; health policy decision-making; health status
Summary/Abstract: Health is complex, multidimensional and hard to define. Health is a separate concept from health status since health is dynamic and health status suggests the ability to measure. Some of the dimensions of health appear in definitions and literature. The inability to define health may lead to some problems in measuring health status as a statistical variable, a perspective that underlines the importance of a clear definition, as complete as possible, appropriate to the context for which the analysis is made. Current definitions do not address all dimensions of health. More broad definitions that capture more dimensions of health are essential to support health policy decision-making and researchers. Several analyses use some variables related to dimensions of health (e.g. extracted from WHO definition - social, mental and physical). A clearer definition makes it easier monitor and meet the objectives. In this study, the health and health status are defined first, and then some dimensions from definitions of health and from literature are debated. The results consist in this collection of dimensions: physical, mental, social, functional, subjective, religious, environmental, emotional, intellectual. Definition created is as follows: "Health is a complex, multidimensional concept that can be affected by a multitude of factors such as physical, social, mental, religious, intellectual, subjective, environmental, and broadly it links to the idea of pain or suffering in any way, but also the well-being and happiness, i.e. holiness for those who have it.". It is important to have a complex definition to support health policy decision-making, which leads towards improving the health status of the population.

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