Short Answer Questions

Chapter 4: Creating supportive environments for health

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1. What is meant by the "settings approach" in health promotion?

The rationale for the settings approach is based on the recognition that health is largely determined by people's environmental, economic, social, organizational and cultural circumstances. In addition to operating at a societal level, these influences operate in and through settings of everyday life, directly affecting well-being and indirectly influencing health through providing more or less supportive contexts within which people make lifestyle choices.

2. What are some settings in which health can be promoted?

Schools, hospital, cities, prisons, markets, villages, workplaces, and universities.

3. Name three actions the NHS can take to contribute to sustainable development.

• The management of waste
• The local procurement of food
• Promoting active travel
• Encouraging the use of stairs rather than lifts for those able to use them.

4. What is meant by a "whole school" approach to promoting health in schools?

The whole-school approach recognizes that both the explicit (or formal) curriculum and the hidden curriculum (what is learnt at school from norms, values and school life) are important in promoting health.

5. What was the name of the report into the NHS that concluded that unless the health system scales up action in evidence-based health promotion, it will not be sustainable in the future?

The Wanless Report published in 2002, Securing Our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View, after its chair, Derek Wanless.

6. The choices people make are shaped by the choices they have. How are health choices created or limited by where you live?

Some neighbourhoods have access to fresh and affordable food and open spaces. Others have only fast food outlets and convenience stores and dense housing and poorly lit streets that do not encourage people to walk.

7. What is a supportive environment for health?

This term was first used in the Ottawa Charter on health promotion in 1986. A supportive environment is one that protects people from threats to their health and facilitates their access to services, support and other resources that enable health and well-being.

8. What does the phrase "make the healthier choice the easier choice" mean?

This means actions at many levels, including public policy, communities and neighbourhoods, worksites and education settings, to create an environment which makes the healthy choice the default option for people, e.g. non-smoking.