Attention must be redirected toward health promotion as nursing evaluates the goal of health for all. Confusion regarding health promotion behavior is illustrated by terms with diverse meanings and uses. In a process of critical analysis, five multidisciplinary experts in health promotion responded to a survey targeting the distinction of health promotion, health promotion behavior, health protection behavior, disease prevention behavior, preventive health behavior, health behavior, and healthy lifestyle. Descriptors of health promotion were derived from a multidimensional conception of well-being. Disagreement existed concerning health protection and health behavior. Nursing interventions are linked to reflective discourse regarding health promotion behavior.

Rapid health care delivery system changes combined with the Institute of Medicine's (1988) call for refocusing public health practice into the Core Functions provide an opportunity to shape community/public health nursing (C/PHN) education and practice for the future. Critical examination is the key to clarifying C/PHN practice. What is the practice now? Is it population-focused, community-based, or both? And what do these terms mean today? The purpose of this paper is to share the authors' thinking about what it is that makes population-focused nursing "different" from community-based practice, as well as unique and useful to the health care delivery system, through the examination of old and new terms and concepts. The significance of this article lies in its ability to encourage dialogue among our colleagues. It is hoped that thoughts shared here will stimulate action to define C/PHN practice in broader arenas.

A concept analysis of preventive health behavior provided the foundation for this review of current health promotion research in nursing. Studies selected for review described or explained behavior for health promotion, illness prevention, or preventive health behavior. The major focus of this critical review is on the conceptualization and measurement of health promotion behaviors being investigated. Despite nursing's claim to an holistic idea of health, the biomedical model continues to influence indicators of health behavior and the context for promotion of healthy life styles. Major issues for future health promotion research relate to the lack of attention to theoretical definitions and multidimensional aspects of health behavior, and the triad of national strategies for health promotion are discussed.

The demography of the United States is rapidly changing. The impressive growth rate of Latino populations within the United States has great impact on health care. This article includes discussion of a significant increase from 1988 to 2000 in Latino utilization of emergency department and inpatient services at a pediatric medical center in Salt Lake City, Utah, information on health care barriers for Latinos, and suggestions for providing culturally competent care.

Substance abuse among young people is of critical concern to public health nurses. When substance abusers are young mothers without the skills, experience, guidance, or resources to become adequate parents, this problem is compounded This study examined a community-based intervention program for young mothers from the perspective of 42 participants. A qualitative, descriptive design was used within a process of participatory action research. Two major domains emerged from the data: risk perceptions and behaviors, and health promoting perceptions and behaviors. The study demonstrated the value of obtaining data from the participants and offers implications for practice and research.

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Gaps in knowledge about what constitutes healthy and risky behaviors for young people hinder successful health promotion intervention strategies. With the development of appropriate instruments, behaviors can be measured and interventions can be implemented to improve health outcomes. The structure of a new health behavior instrument, the Multidimensional Health Behavior Inventory (MHBI), was explored with data from 1,077 college students, ages 18 to 24 years. Factor analysis of 116 health behavior questions yielded 7 factor-based scales with 57 items: diet (13 items), substance use (10 items), safety (9 items), checkup (9 items), social (6 items), stress (6 items), and exercise (4 items). Evaluation of the 7 behavior scales of the MHBI using subgroups defined by age, gender, and race will contribute to an understanding of health behaviors of older adolescents and young adults and will provide directions for research and clinical interventions.