Towards a secure evidence base for health promotion

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion Evaluation
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Traditional evidence criteria for health promotion are often rooted in the biomedical model.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental methods have limitations in evaluating complex health promotion interventions.
• The multifactorial nature of health promotion necessitates broader evaluation frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the limitations of current evidence-based criteria in health promotion.
• To explore alternative approaches for evaluating health promotion interventions.
• To advocate for a more inclusive and appropriate methodology for assessing health promotion evidence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the limitations of experimental and quasi-experimental designs in health promotion.
• Identification of direct, indirect, and process indicators relevant to health promotion.
• Discussion on the integration of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Main Results:

• Biomedical criteria are insufficient for evaluating the multifaceted nature of health promotion.
• A range of indicators beyond traditional outcomes are necessary for comprehensive assessment.
• Combining quantitative and qualitative data offers a richer understanding of intervention effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• A 'judicial principle' is proposed for assessing health promotion evidence, integrating diverse indicators and methods.
• Moving beyond a purely biomedical agenda is crucial for robust health promotion evaluation.
• A flexible, mixed-methods approach is recommended for evaluating complex health promotion initiatives.