Health promotion perception among health-care providers working in educational hospitals of Isfahan, Iran: A Qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Although the World Health Organization has emphasized the need for reorientation of hospitals toward health promotion (HP), HP in hospitals of Iran is a new concept. This study investigated the concept of HP among health-care professionals working in educational hospitals of Isfahan, Iran, 2015. METHODS: A descriptive exploratory qualitative approach was employed in this study, with semi-structured interviews to investigate HP concept. The study settings included four selected educational hospitals affiliated to the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. A purposive sample consisted of 15 health-care professionals who were participated in the study. RESULTS: Most of the participants perceived HP as a concept synonymous to health education and disease prevention. Other meaning attributes to HP were improved quality of life and well-being, clinical practice, individual and group approach to increase health, and holistic view to health. Some empowerment strategies were described by participants, but most of the participants rarely went beyond traditional health education strategy aimed at an individual target. A sizeable number of participants used interchangeably the terms “health promotion” with “prevention,” “health education,” and “hygiene”. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that participants of this study had limited knowledge about HP. Health-care staff have a decisive role for reorienting hospitals toward HP; thus, there is a need for ongoing in-service training for health-care professionals of hospitals to focus on HP.