Foundations of Health Promotion and Disease Mitigation

Catalog description

Six out of ten adults in the US currently have a chronic illness, leading to over $3.8 trillion in healthcare costs. By 2030, the prevalence of obesity in the US is projected to reach 78%. The key lifestyle drivers for chronic illness are tobacco use, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol use. Out of all developed nations, the US spends the most on healthcare and has the worst population health outcomes. How do healthcare professionals influence health-related behavior change? How do they support their patients/clients? optimal engagement with adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors to mitigate the risk of chronic illness and improve health and wellness across the lifespan? This course will incorporate contemporary behavioral change theories to empower patients to participate in their health and wellness through education, self-efficacy, and self-care. Focus will be placed on upstream health and wellness promotion to mitigate chronic illness, improve health-related quality of life, and consider the impact that social determinants of health have on individual and population health. Special emphasis will be placed on the socioecological framework, social determinants of health, health inequities, chronic illness, chronic pain, and sleep health.