Health promoting universities: A scoping review

The university setting represents a singular context to promote health and well-being. Although health-promoting university (HPU) initiatives exist worldwide, information on theoretical principles is sparse. The purpose of this integrative review is to describe how the HPU approach has been theorised.

A scoping review was carried out in PubMed, Medline, ERIC, Scielo, WoS, Scopus and CINAHL following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement. The articles included in the final step were content analysed according to: (a) reference; (b) country; (c) label; (d) objectives of work; (e) HPU definition and (f) type of study. For the empirical articles, some additional items were reviewed.

After the analysis and exclusion of studies for not meeting the inclusion criteria, 22 articles were integrated into the final sample. Of those, 12 were theoretical papers and 10 were empirical studies. The review found that most of the studies define the HPU approach according to the principles described in the Ottawa Charter and the socioecological perspective on health promotion. Most of the empirical selected studies are based on qualitative data. The implementation of healthy policies and evaluative strategies are remaining challenges.

Our findings suggest that the HPU concept is underpinned by a wide array of theories and models. It also points to the need for a common university framework that integrates the basic principles into practice. The articulation between theoretical narrative and practical initiatives is a remaining threat that needs to be assessed in order to enable universities to become healthy spaces. SO WHAT?: HPU generates enabling conditions that support communities to improve and maintain their health status and well-being. In this sense, more evidence of effectiveness will be needed in future research.