Annotated Bibliography
What is Health?
The following resources were used in considering how the Canadian Health Act might be updated.
Brook, R. H. (2017). Should the Definition of Health Include a Measure of Tolerance? JAMA, 317(6), 585–586. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.14372
Building off of the 1948 WHO health definition, the author of this article proposes that tolerance, namely being psychologically health, well-balanced and accepting of others, be included in the definition of health. He illustrates his point by providing examples of intolerant or hateful individuals and asks if anyone could reasonably say that those individuals are truly healthy.
Campbell, R. M., Pleic, M., & Connolly, H. (2012). The importance of a common global health definition: How Canada’s definition influences its strategic direction in global health. Journal of Global Health, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.02.010301
The authors of this article discuss international definitions of health and the importance of Canada choosing a definition that can provide direction to academics and organizations working in the health care field. The authors believe that the agreed upon definition has enormous implications for the future practice and study of global health in Canada.
Definitions of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2019, from http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/health_definitions_e.htm
This publication from the University of Ottawa discusses the evolving definition of health and how ways of thinking about it have evolved over the years. It presents three leading historical approaches include the "medical model", the "holistic model", and the "wellness model".
Health: What does good health really mean? (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150999.php
A newsletter published in “Medical News Today” discusses health as an optimal state and the ability of a body to adapt to new threats and infirmities. It introduces many social determinants of health and recognizes that there are many types of health, including, but not limited to physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and financial health.
Huber, M. (2011). HEALTH: HOW SHOULD WE DEFINE IT? BMJ: British Medical Journal, 343(7817), 235–237. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23051314
The WHO definition of health as complete wellbeing is no longer fit for purpose given the rise of
chronic disease. Machteld Huber and colleagues propose changing the emphasis towards the
ability to adapt and self manage in the face of social, physical, and emotional challenges.
Misselbrook, D. (2014). W is for Wellbeing and the WHO definition of health. The British Journal of General Practice, 64(628), 582. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp14X682381
A critique of the WHO definition of health, the author of this article encourages health care to refocus on wellbeing, not illness. It recognizes that wellbeing and disability are two ends of the same continuum.
Svalastog, A. L., Donev, D., Jahren Kristoffersen, N., & Gajović, S. (2017). Concepts and definitions of health and health-related values in the knowledge landscapes of the digital society. Croatian Medical Journal, 58(6), 431–435. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2017.58.431
The author of this article takes readers from historical to modern concepts and definitions of health and focus on health in today’s digital age and the accessibility of knowledge landscapes.
Oleribe, O. O., Ukwedeh, O., Burstow, N. J., Gomaa, A. I., Sonderup, M. W., Cook, N., … Taylor-Robinson, S. D. (2018). Health: redefined. Pan African Medical Journal, 30, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.30.292.15436
A criticism of current definitions of health, the authors of this article suggest an all encompassing definition of health as a state of having the overall physical, mental, emotional, and social abilities to add values not just to one's self, but to society, resulting in the development of a better and sustainable world where things work, people live in harmony and community existence is enhanced.