Guidelines for practice
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
The IUHPE Core Competencies and Professional Standards for Health Promotion and Education are underpinned by ethical values and principles for Health Promotion include a belief in equity and social justice, respect for the autonomy and choice of both individuals and groups, and collaborative and consultative ways of working.
Ethical health promotion practice is based on a commitment to:
- Health as a human right, which is central to human development
- Respect for the rights, dignity, confidentiality and worth of individuals and groups
- Respect for all aspects of diversity including gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, ethnicity, race, and cultural beliefs
- Addressing health inequities, social injustice, and prioritising the needs of those experiencing poverty and social marginalisation
- Addressing the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological determinants of health and wellbeing
- Ensuring that Health Promotion action is beneficial and causes no harm
- Being honest about what Health Promotion is, and what it can and cannot achieve
- Seeking the best available information and evidence needed to implement effective policies and programmes that influence health
- Collaboration and partnership as the basis for Health Promotion action
- The empowerment of individuals and groups to build autonomy and self respect as the basis for Health Promotion action
- Sustainable development and sustainable Health Promotion action
- Being accountable for the quality of one’s own practice and taking responsibility for maintaining and improving knowledge and skills
These ethical values underpin all health promotion action detailed in the nine other domains of the Core Competencies. Ethical values are integral to the practice of Health Promotion and inform the context within which all the other competencies are practiced.
Guidelines for research & evaluation
National Health and Medical Research Council
The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) (National Statement (2007) consists of a series of guidelines made in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.
This statement provides the overarching ethical guidelines for all research involving humans, including health promotion research and evaluation and is intended for use by:
- any researcher conducting research with human participants;
- any member of an ethical review body reviewing that research;
- those involved in research governance; and
- potential research participants.
Ethical considerations in quality assurance and evaluation activities assists organisations in developing quality assurance policy and appropriate oversight. Quality assurance and evaluation are important to ensure effective work and the best outcomes. However, there can be confusion about whether an activity is research, evaluation or quality assurance as there may be similar research methods used.
Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities provides a set of principles to ensure research is safe, respectful, responsible, high quality and of benefit to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.