PUBH8475 Discussion: Environmental Theory in Health Promotion Model

This discussion board post explores the application of Environmental Theory within the context of public health, specifically in relation to the MAP-IT (Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Implement, and Track) model. Environmental Theory posits that a patient's environment significantly impacts their recovery and overall health, emphasizing factors like ventilation, cleanliness, and warmth. The MAP-IT model, a framework for planning and evaluating public health interventions, benefits from the insights of Environmental Theory by prioritizing environmental factors in its planning and implementation phases. The discussion highlights the advantages of using the MAP-IT model, such as follow-up evaluations and community engagement, while also acknowledging its limitations, including potential data reliability issues. The references provided support the discussion with relevant sources on health promotion programs and the MAP-IT model.

Running head: Environmental Theory 1
Environmental Theory
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Environmental Theory
Health theories describe how to maintain a healthy state and also why people become
sick; sickness or illness can be caused by germs, weak immune system, breach of taboo or soul
loss (Fertman, 2017). Environmental theory is one of the health theories; it explains how patients
recover according to their environment. An environment that is favorable eases the healing of
patients and their health. For example, a well-ventilated, clean, and warm room may make it
easier for a patient to recover fast compared to a dirt, cold, and unventilated room.
MAP-IT (Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Implement, and Track) model is a framework used to
plan and evaluate public health interventions in a community; this is done with the aim of
creating a healthy community. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016).
Environmental theory would enlighten the use of MAP-IT as it will make the MAP-IT process
easier because one will be aware of how to plan and implement decisions effectively.
Environmental theory will also guide the MAP-IT model on the best plans to make towards
patient and communities; According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005)
since environmental theory is about the surrounding, proper measures towards cleanness and
ventilation will be put into consideration thus improving patient’s health and facilitating their
healing process.
One advantage of using MAP-IT model is that a follow up is done to evaluate the
progress over time; this helps in ensuring that one is able to know how effective or ineffective a
plan (Monroe County Department of Public Health, 2007). Another advantage of MAP-IT model
is that progress and success are shared with the community and this helps open up the eyes of
many people in society. MAP-IT has its limitations because, for example, data collected may not

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be reliable; additionally, the data collected may not be used for a long time as well as the quality
of the data may be not accurate.

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References
Fertman, C. & Allensworth, D. (2017). Health promotion programs: From theory to practice.
CA: Jossey-Bass.
Monroe County Department of Public Health. (2007). Monroe County adult health survey report
2006.http://www2.monroecounty.gov/files/health/health-AccessedJune6,2018
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer
Institute. (2005). Theory at a glance: A guide for health promotion practice.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion. (2016). Healthy People 2020 program planning tools.
https://www.healthypeople.gov/sites/default/files/BrainstormPotenial.pdf Accessed June
6, 2018