The Twenty Five Most Important Studies in Health Promotion

Abstract

Which are the studies, special reports and commentaries that have been most influential in shaping the health promotion profession? This editorial poses that question to many of America’s most accomplished researchers. Each was asked to name one or two ‘must read’ studies from other scholars as well as to feature one of their own research projects that has had the greatest reach. This review of seminal studies focuses on community health, patient education and behavior change research and a future editorial will focus on workplace based health promotion research. Readers are challenged to review the four decades of research represented by this list and consider whether trends can be identified with respect to the relative attention researchers are giving to individual, interpersonal, community and societal factors influencing health behavior. How clear is the evidence that the choices we make are determined by the choices we have?