THE CONSUMERS VIEWS OF HEALTH

Reviews of the literature indicate a shift in the way consumers and health care providers define health. If these groups hold different views of health, consumers may not adhere to medical regimens or follow health promotion advice. This pilot study was designed to compare consumer's views of health with two current conceptual models. Sixty-five adults completed a questionnaire with 34 definitions of health in 12 categories. The analyses revealed that adults rated the self-concept, fitness and role performance categories as the strongest indicators of health. Also, there were significant gender and educational differences. Women were more likely than men to view social involvement and harmony as health indicators. Three categories, namely body image, fitness and self-actualization, were significantly different between educational groups. The findings are discussed in relation to two models of health and implications for nursing practice and research.