IntroductionHealth promotion includes providing activities that improve a person's health. These activities help patients “maintain or improve their current level of health.” Health promotion activities motivate people to take positive action to achieve more stable levels of health” (Potter & Perry, 2005, p. 97). For nurses to help patients adopt a healthy lifestyle, they must first assess the patient's perception of health. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (cited in Potter and Perry, 2005, p. 91 ). There are many nursing theories based on an individual's perception of health. This article will explore how health promotion theories can help nurses understand how these perceptions can affect a person's life choices. Health Promotion Theories According to Potter and Perry (2005), “a nursing theory is a conceptualization of an aspect of nursing care communicated with the aim of describing, explaining, predicting and/or prescribing nursing” (p. 62). Nurses use the theory to help provide education and care to their patients. The use of nursing theories enhances the nurse's ability to use concepts that have been researched and proven in the application of nursing care. Behavior is an important keyword when discussing health promotion theories because lifestyle modification requires a change in beliefs and attitude. Many health promotion theories explain how behavior can enhance or discourage a patient's progress in health-related activities. Nola Pender, a nursing theorist and educator, developed the Health Promotion Model (HPM). The three main parts of the HPM are...... middle of paper ......d=2320&accno=2009977443Piper, S. (2008). Promote health. Emergency Nurse, 16(8), 12-14. Potter, PA and Perry, AG (2005). Fundamentals of Nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc. Rohrer, J.E., Naessens, J.M., Liesinger, J., & Litchy, W. (2010). Comparison of various health promotion programs using global self-rated health as a common measure. Population Health Management, 13(2), 91-95. doi:10.1089/pop.2009.0026South, J. and Sahota, P. (2010). Harnessing the power of people in health promotion. Primary Health Care, 20(8), 16-21. Retrieved from http://www.cinahl.com/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=1892&accno=2010826688 Wilhelmsson, S. and Lindberg, M. (2009). Health promotion: facilitators and barriers perceived by district nurses. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 15(3) 156-163. Retrieved from http://www.cinahl.com/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=1339&accno=2010314689