Health promotion among cancer patients: Innovative interventions

Abstract

There are growing interests in promoting health of patients with cancer targeting on prevention and control as there are several modifiable risk factors that can be controlled to prevent cancer such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy behaviors. Once diagnosis of cancer has been determined, health promotion interventions can be targeted on helping patients overcome the physiological and psychological effects of the diagnosis. Health promotion interventions should continue during treatment, survivorship, and for those receiving palliative care. More specifically is the promotion of psychological health of patients with cancer. Introduction of the incidence of cancer, cancer risk protection interventions and innovative health promotion interventions along these different periods in the life of patients with cancer are presented. Some theoretical frameworks used in health promotion research with examples of studies are discussed.