Content area
Full text
Introduction
Universities are organisations where many people spend a significant part of their time. The individuals who make up the university community (students, professors, technicians, administrative staff, etc.) are, or will be, professionals, politicians and leaders in different areas of society, and may directly influence society with their habits, beliefs and attitudes. In 1986, the Ottawa Charter claimed that health is built where people live, play and love (1). Accordingly, the university setting represents a valuable opportunity to promote health and well-being (2).
Several universities have assumed this commitment to health, but only a minority have adopted a whole systems approach following the Health Promoting Universities concept (3–7). This concept was launched nearly two decades ago, and draws on a number of different experiences, including settings-based interventions such as health-promoting schools, workplaces and hospitals, and the expertise of the WHO Healthy Cities Project Office.
The Health Promoting University concept has a strong theoretical basis, and it appears appealing amongst universities worldwide. However, the way in which the approach has been implemented remains poorly documented. This systematic review aims to describe how universities have implemented the Health Promoting University concept in different cultural contexts. In order to achieve this aim, we analysed the following aspects of the implementation of the Health Promoting University: (a) definition of Health Promoting University; (b) priority areas of action; (c) items of work; (d) coordination of the project; (e) project evaluation and possible results; and (f) adaptation to the cultural context.
The conceptual framework of Health Promoting Universities
As an application of the healthy settings approach to higher education institutions, the Health Promoting Universities framework has been developed over the past decades through milestone events such the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities held in 1996; the publication of the guidelines for establishing Health Promoting Universities by WHO-Euro in 1998; and the Edmonton Charter for Health Promoting Universities of 2006 (3,5). The framework states the objectives that must be pursued to build a Health Promoting University, and mentions what the expected outcomes should be.
The objectives of a Health Promoting University are: (a) to promote healthy and sustainable policies and planning throughout the university; (b) to provide a healthy working environment; (c) to support the healthy personal and social development of...