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From the Editor
Editor's Notes Jan/Feb 2010
The Genetic Information Non
-Discrimination Act-A Wake-Up Call:
Great Intentions, but a Setback for
Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of
Workplace Health Promotion
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The Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)1 was signed
into law on May 21, 2008. The act
protects individuals from genetic
information discrimination in health
insurance and employment. Unfortunately,
it is likely to have a negative effect
on workplace health promotion programs.
GINA Title I applies to health insurance
and Title II applies to employment.
Note: I am not commenting on GINA Title
II because the rules had not yet been
released when I wrote this column in
mid-November 2009.
The purpose of this commentary is not
to provide an in-depth review of the
GINA provisions. Instead, the purpose is
to use the GINA experience to illustrate
that passing legislation is just the
first step in integrating health
promotion concepts into national policy.
The second step is making sure the rules
guiding implementation of the
legislation are written in such a way
that they achieve the intended purpose.
The third step is to make sure agencies
carry out the rules appropriately. If we
want to integrate health promotion
concepts into national health policy, we
need to be involved in all three steps.
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Conference
Update:
Keynotes Announced |
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James
Fowler, PhD
Connected! The Surprising
Power of Our Social Networks and How
They Shape Our Lives |
David Bornstein
How to Change the World |
David
Hunnicutt, PhD
What
Indeed Does Work Good, Better, Best?
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Definition of Health Promotion
Health Promotion is the art and science of
helping people discover the synergies between
their core passions and optimal health,
enhancing their motivation to strive for optimal
health, and supporting them in changing their
lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal
health. Optimal health is a dynamic balance of
physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and
intellectual health. Lifestyle change can be
facilitated through a combination of learning
experiences that enhance awareness, increase
motivation, and build skills and, most
important, through the creation of opportunities
that open access to environments that make
positive health practices the easiest choice.
O’Donnell MP. Definition of health promotion
2.0: embracing passion, enhancing motivation,
recognizing dynamic balance, and creating
opportunities. Am J Health Promot. 2009
Jul-Aug;23(6):iv.
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Physical |
Fitness.
Nutrition. Medical self-care. Control of substance abuse. |
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Emotional |
Care for
emotional crisis. Stress Management |
| Social |
Communities.
Families. Friends |
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Intellectual |
Educational.
Achievement. Career development |
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Spiritual |
Love. Hope.
Charity. |
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Our definition of health promotion guides the editorial content
of all of our publications.v
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