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Currently pathological and illness-centric policy surrounds the evaluation of the health status of a person experiencing disability. In this research partnerships were built between disability service providers, community development organizations and disability arts organizations to build a translational evaluative methodology prior to implementation of an arts-based workshop that was embedded in a strengths-based approach to health and well-being. The model consisted of three foci: participation in a pre-designed drama-based workshop program; individualized assessment and evaluation of changing health status; and longitudinal analysis of participants changing health status in their public lives following the culmination of the workshop series. Participants (n = 15) were recruited through disability service providers and disability arts organizations to complete a 13-week workshop series and public performance. The study developed accumulative qualitative analysis tools and member-checking methods specific to the communication systems used by individual participants. Principle findings included increased confidence for verbal and non-verbal communicators; increased personal drive, ambition and goal-setting; increased arts-based skills including professional engagements as artists; demonstrated skills in communicating perceptions of health status to private and public spheres. Tangential positive observations were evident in the changing recreational, vocational and educational activities participants engaged with pre- and post- the workshop series; participants advocating for autonomous accommodation and health provision and changes in the disability service staff's culture. The research is an example of translational health methodologies in disability studies.

Some analyses are made regarding links that could exist among the psychologists working in the academic environment or in scientific research, and the public health field, where health policies are issued. Emphasis is made on the fact that there has been some kind of separation between these two levels of activity and on the need for a mutual interaction so that the problems faced by the researchers should have a wider social scope and, consequently, that the policies formulated should bear wider scientific support. Some facts related to the intrinsic value of the psychological field, when related to health/illness as a process and health services as a product, have also been stressed. There is also emphasized the fact that in a health and illness environment, such as that faced by our population, where the life style plays a rather serious role, the psychosocial factors should be taken into account, particularly as regards health promotion and illness prevention. Finally, reference is made to the various methodological strategies that are susceptible of being implemented in the field of health psychology and the need to combine them in looking to achieve a given social and political goal. To illustrate the above, there is analyzed the process involving the formulation and implementation of a health promotion program, specifying methodological strategies that are suitable to each step of the process., Se hacen algunos análisis acerca de los nexos que unen potencialmente a la comunidad de psicólogos que trabajan en el ámbito académico o de investigación científica, con el ámbito de la salud pública y de formulación de políticas en este campo. Se destaca el divorcio que existe entre estos dos niveles de actividad y la necesidad de una mutua interacción entre ello para que los problemas que se plantean los investigadores adquieran una mayor relevancia social, así como para que la formulación de políticas tenga un mayor respaldo científico. Se destacan algunos hechos referentes al valor intrínseco de lo psicológico, al referirse a la salud/enfermedad como proceso y a los servicios de salud como producto, y se subraya la importancia de que en la actualidad se tomen en cuenta los factores de tipo psicosocial, en un marco de salud y enfermedad como el que aqueja a nuestra población, en el cual el estilo de vida juega un papel trascendental, sobre todo con miras a la promoción de la salud y a la prevención de las enfermedades. Finalmente, se hace referencia a las diversas estrategias metodológicas susceptibles de implementarse en el campo de la psicología de la salud y a la necesidad de combinarlas con miras al logro de un determinado propósito que tenga relevancia social y política; para ilustrar lo anterior, se analiza el proceso inherente a la formulación e implementación de un programa de promoción de la salud, especificando las estrategias metodológicas apropiadas para cada paso del proceso.

Some analyses are made regarding links that could exist among the psychologists working in the academic environment or in scientific research, and the public health field, where health policies are issued. Emphasis is made on the fact that there has been some kind of separation between these two levels of activity and on the need for a mutual interaction so that the problems faced by the researchers should have a wider social scope and, consequently, that the policies formulated should bear wider scientific support. Some facts related to the intrinsic value of the psychological field, when related to health/illness as a process and health services as a product, have also been stressed. There is also emphasized the fact that in a health and illness environment, such as that faced by our population, where the life style plays a rather serious role, the psychosocial factors should be taken into account, particularly as regards health promotion and illness prevention. Finally, reference is made to the various methodological strategies that are susceptible of being implemented in the field of health psychology and the need to combine them in looking to achieve a given social and political goal. To illustrate the above, there is analyzed the process involving the formulation and implementation of a health promotion program, specifying methodological strategies that are suitable to each step of the process., Se hacen algunos análisis acerca de los nexos que unen potencialmente a la comunidad de psicólogos que trabajan en el ámbito académico o de investigación científica, con el ámbito de la salud pública y de formulación de políticas en este campo. Se destaca el divorcio que existe entre estos dos niveles de actividad y la necesidad de una mutua interacción entre ello para que los problemas que se plantean los investigadores adquieran una mayor relevancia social, así como para que la formulación de políticas tenga un mayor respaldo científico. Se destacan algunos hechos referentes al valor intrínseco de lo psicológico, al referirse a la salud/enfermedad como proceso y a los servicios de salud como producto, y se subraya la importancia de que en la actualidad se tomen en cuenta los factores de tipo psicosocial, en un marco de salud y enfermedad como el que aqueja a nuestra población, en el cual el estilo de vida juega un papel trascendental, sobre todo con miras a la promoción de la salud y a la prevención de las enfermedades. Finalmente, se hace referencia a las diversas estrategias metodológicas susceptibles de implementarse en el campo de la psicología de la salud y a la necesidad de combinarlas con miras al logro de un determinado propósito que tenga relevancia social y política; para ilustrar lo anterior, se analiza el proceso inherente a la formulación e implementación de un programa de promoción de la salud, especificando las estrategias metodológicas apropiadas para cada paso del proceso.

The study develops a model for an implementable health promotion program for the cadet member of the United States Corps of Cadets, West Point, NY. Following a discussion of models in general the paper discusses in depth an iterative ongoing four-step process in addressing the unique challenges of the target population. As this research is the beginning of an ongoing process of development, the author makes recommendations on possible ways of implementing health promotion for the Corps of Cadets to include the use of health risk appraisals and a local area network. Keywords: Preventive medicine; Health care; Medical services; Risk assessment, Health promotion, United States Military Academy, Wellness, Health risk appraisal., Master's thesis.