The state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely absence of any disease, is called?

AIIMS Bhuvneshwar NO- 2018

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhuvneshwar NO- 2018

Explanation

The question provides the verbatim definition of 'health' as established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the preamble to its constitution in 1948.
This definition is holistic, emphasizing that health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but a positive state of complete well-being.
It encompasses three key dimensions: physical (the body), mental (the mind), and social (relationships and community involvement).

Option B: Morbidity refers to the state of being diseased or the incidence of disease within a population. It is a measure of sickness, which is the opposite of the concept of complete well-being described in the question.
Option C: Care refers to the services and actions provided to maintain or improve health, such as nursing care or medical treatment. It is the means to achieve health, not the state of health itself.
Option D: Wellness is an active, ongoing process of making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. While closely related to health, 'health' is the state of being, whereas 'wellness' is the active pursuit of that state. The question describes a state, not a process.

Visual 1: Diagram - A diagram illustrating the three core dimensions of health (Physical, Mental, Social) as interlocking circles, with additional dimensions like Spiritual, Emotional, and Vocational shown as surrounding layers. This helps visualize the holistic nature of health.
Visual 2: Flowchart - A simple flowchart contrasting 'Health' and 'Wellness'. It would show 'Wellness' as a continuous cycle of actions (e.g., exercise, healthy eating, stress management) leading to the 'State of Health'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Definition of Health (WHO) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
This holistic definition of health is fundamental to modern nursing practice. It guides nurses to perform comprehensive assessments that consider a patient's psychological, social, and environmental factors, not just their physical symptoms.
Patient care plans are designed to address all dimensions of health. For instance, a patient recovering from surgery needs not only wound care (physical) but also emotional support (mental) and a plan for reintegration into their family and community (social).
What if? - If a patient has no diagnosed physical illness but reports chronic loneliness and a lack of purpose, a nurse applying the WHO definition would recognize that the patient is not in a state of complete health. The nursing intervention would then focus on psychosocial support, such as connecting the patient with community groups or counseling services, rather than dismissing their concerns due to the absence of physical disease.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify that the question is asking for a definition. This is a direct recall question.
Analyze the keywords in the definition provided: 'complete physical, mental, and social well-being' and 'not merely an absence of disease'.
Recognize this phrase as the classic, foundational definition of health established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Evaluate each option against this definition.
Eliminate 'Morbidity' as it relates to disease, the opposite of the definition.
Eliminate 'Care' as it is an action or service, not a state of being.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Definition of Health (WHO)
Stem keywords: complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely absence of any disease
Lead-in keywords: is called
Negative lead-in flag: false

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