From preventive health behavior to health promotion: advancing a positive construct of health

A concept analysis of preventive health behavior provided the foundation for this review of current health promotion research in nursing. Studies selected for review described or explained behavior for health promotion, illness prevention, or preventive health behavior. The major focus of this critical review is on the conceptualization and measurement of health promotion behaviors being investigated. Despite nursing's claim to an holistic idea of health, the biomedical model continues to influence indicators of health behavior and the context for promotion of healthy life styles. Major issues for future health promotion research relate to the lack of attention to theoretical definitions and multidimensional aspects of health behavior, and the triad of national strategies for health promotion are discussed.