Page 20 - HPP

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FUTURE-ORIENTED HEALTH PROMOTION
in HP approach, such as demands to create supportive environment, strengthen communities and to reorient health and social services, see Figure 3. The positive health concept bridges the gap between healthcare and the social domain, and by that it may demedicalize societal problems. In this way the shared awareness and professional concepts among professionals may strengthen cross-sectoral approach and competencies in health promotion that was appreciated as essential by HP professionals in our HPP -survey.
The HP training umbrella (Figure 3) provides a visual representation of the fundamental concepts which dictated what should be included in the intended HP study programs and curricula. Positive health and well-being domain in the middle of the umbrella creates a shared value base for health promotion professionals. Health promotion competencies are organized around a positive health concept and the roles of HP professionals. These following six roles have been introduced from nine key competency areas, with multiple sub-competencies, applied in the HPP survey (IUHPE) (Figure 3):
• The role of a health promotion professional is central, basic and integrative. As HP professionals, people have competencies to work in many roles, applying HP knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes in their health promotion activities and interactions with customers / citizens. They have to understand and apply theory, research, values and multidisciplinary knowledge base of health promotion into practice, which underpins the competencies.
• As change agents, professionals have competencies to enable change towards equity in health and well-being as well as empowering people to achieve their fullest health potential. They are responsible to advance the health and well-being of individual patients, communities, and populations.
• As communicators, HP professionals have competencies to use appropriate channels and methods for effective communication in HP actions.