"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". This was stated by?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhatinda NO - 2019

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) established this widely accepted definition of health in the preamble to its constitution in 1948.
This definition is groundbreaking because it presents health as a positive and holistic concept, not simply the absence of illness.
It encompasses three key interconnected dimensions: physical, mental, and social well-being.
In recent years, the definition has been amplified to include the ability to lead a 'socially and economically productive life'.

Option A: The United Nations is the parent body of the WHO, primarily focused on international peace, security, and broad political cooperation. It does not formulate specific health definitions.
Option B: The National Institute of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Its scope is national, not international.
Option C: The National League for Nursing (NLN) is a professional organization in the United States focused on excellence in nursing education. Its mission is related to the nursing profession and education standards, not setting global health definitions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing WHO Definition of Health helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
This holistic definition guides nurses to perform comprehensive assessments that go beyond physical symptoms, prompting them to inquire about a patient's psychological, emotional, and social status.
It underpins the concept of patient-centered care, where nursing interventions are designed to improve a patient's overall quality of life, not just to treat a specific disease.
What if? If a nurse only focused on the 'absence of disease,' an elderly patient who is physically stable but reports feeling lonely and isolated might be considered 'healthy.' The WHO definition compels the nurse to recognize this social distress as a health problem and to facilitate interventions like social worker referrals or community group activities.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease'.
Recognize this as the most famous and foundational definition of health in modern public health.
Consider the scope of the definition. It is universal and applies globally.
Evaluate the options based on their scope. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the primary international body for public health.
Eliminate the other options by identifying their more specific or national focus: the UN is a broader political body, while the NIH and NLN are US-specific organizations.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: WHO Definition of Health
Stem keywords: Health, complete physical, mental, and social well-being, absence of disease, infirmity
Lead-in keywords: stated by
Negative lead-in flag: false

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.