Health Promotion and Chronic Illness : Discovering a New Quality of Health

The collection of texts presented in this book provides an overview and a scientific evaluation of some chronic conditions common to all industralized countries: cancers, myocardial infarction and chronic pain.

The book takes stock of medical progress and practice, yet goes much further in exploring new avenues to health.

The authors ask questions and provide possible answers, and also give many examples of ways to enhance the well-being of those who have to live with chronic health problems. Underlying the book are the principles of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, carrying as it does one of the most influential messages for the shaping of future health policies.

The Charter forcefully expresses concern for a new understanding of public health in the years to come.

It also shows clearly that a positive and active attitude to health is possible whatever the state of health of a person may be.