Best Practice
Health promotion and prevention requires a clear orientation framework and appropriate guidelines so that optimal decisions may be taken and the best possible actions performed. Health Promotion Switzerland has developed a best practice concept which serves as such a framework and which is also reflected in its long-term strategy.
The best practice concept for health promotion and prevention combines evidence and quality “movements”. This concept and the follow-up activities and guidelines derived from it should support decision-makers and specialists in health promotion and prevention in their demanding work. For Health Promotion Switzerland, the implementation of this concept contributes to its strategic objective of “establishing, institutionalizing and networking” health promotion and prevention.
With this work, Health Promotion Switzerland wants to take a stand in the technical discourse, especially in the evidence debate, and to establish a clear professional standard. The best practice concept should promote ethically responsible, scientifically based and context-sensitive action. Best practice is understood as follows:
The best practice concept is based on the three dimensions of values, knowledge and context: the implementation of the best practice concept requires systematic, recurrent reflection or critical questioning by professionals or those responsible for health promotion and prevention when making decisions or when planning, implementing and evaluating activities. This is carried out throughout the three best practice dimensions and the associated criteria and indicators (similar to a radar beam which repeatedly travels through the aeroplane-covered skies). This increases the probability of achieving the intended health promoting or preventive outcomes.
The best practice concept for health promotion and prevention combines evidence and quality “movements”. This concept and the follow-up activities and guidelines derived from it should support decision-makers and specialists in health promotion and prevention in their demanding work. For Health Promotion Switzerland, the implementation of this concept contributes to its strategic objective of “establishing, institutionalizing and networking” health promotion and prevention.
With this work, Health Promotion Switzerland wants to take a stand in the technical discourse, especially in the evidence debate, and to establish a clear professional standard. The best practice concept should promote ethically responsible, scientifically based and context-sensitive action. Best practice is understood as follows:
| Best practice in the context of health promotion and prevention means
systematically taking into account the values and principles of health
promotion and public health, building up on current scientific knowledge
and knowledge from experts/from practice, observing the relevant
context factors and having achieved the intended health promoting or
preventive outcomes. |
The best practice concept is based on the three dimensions of values, knowledge and context: the implementation of the best practice concept requires systematic, recurrent reflection or critical questioning by professionals or those responsible for health promotion and prevention when making decisions or when planning, implementing and evaluating activities. This is carried out throughout the three best practice dimensions and the associated criteria and indicators (similar to a radar beam which repeatedly travels through the aeroplane-covered skies). This increases the probability of achieving the intended health promoting or preventive outcomes.
