Free Nursing Dissertations - Importantly It Sets Out The Means Whereby These Goals Will Be Achieved. It
Importantly it sets out the means whereby these goals will be achieved. It outlines the 45 main points which are the key interventions which are hoped to make the greatest changes in health in the shortest time. (EHC 1999)
In addition it is accompanied by two other complimentary Action Plans namely:
Choosing a Better Diet : a food and health action plan
Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan.
The mechanism of implementations is to put health promotion at the heart of the NHS. It acknowledges that this will require a major shift in both emphasis and attitude from all parties concerned, both healthcare professionals and the public alike. (Nickols F 2004)
The Government stands back from imposing particular regimes on the General Public, its preferred course of action is to promote empowerment and education of the public to allow then to find it easier to choose a healthier lifestyle and thereby give them greater degrees of control over their health in general. (Marinker M.1997)
Some of the more revolutionary initiatives include:-
- Introduction of 'health trainers' to help people live a more healthy lifestyle
- Expansion of school nursing services
- Smoke free workplaces and enclosed public places by 2008
- Campaigns targeted at young people about the dangers of unprotected sex
The evidence base
We all assume that there is a positive relationship between physical exercise and good health. Before we pass over this fundamental relationship, we must examine the validity of the evidence base that underpins it. (Berwick D 2005)
As far as specific exercise is concerned the Government has recommended a target of 30 minutes of exercise a day on at least five days a week (At least five a week 2004). It has to be noted that the actual composition of the exercise is not clearly defined, but we do know that 30 mins. of brisk walking is considered to be an acceptable exercise level in this context.
If we consider the paper by Miller (T et al 1997), this is one of the most important pieces of evidence (and was presented by the Government’s own advisors in support of this particular policy). It is, in effect, a meta analysis or overview of over 50 different studies which show that there is a positive relationship between exercise and a reduction in the rate of cardiovascular disease. This same paper also takes an overview of more than 40 other papers which consider the converse position, which demonstrate that inactivity can double the rate of development of cardiovascular complications in later life.
This latter point is taken up in an excellent paper by Lees S and Booth F (2004) who explore the relationship between general inactivity and the effects it has on morbidity in the long term. They coin the phrase The Sedentary Death syndrome.
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