Developing Evidence for Structural Approaches to Build a Culture of Health

Abstract

We believe that reframing the conversation to creating a culture around health rather than focusing on discrete actions or activities will capture national consciousness and enable us to make new progress as a nation. Thus, in 2014, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced a new vision to help build a “Culture of Health” to enable everyone in our diverse society to lead healthier lives now and for generations to come. In supporting the development of this supplement of Health Education & Behavior, RWJF sought to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which policy, environmental, and financial approaches can contribute to such a Culture of Health. However, while this supplement issue of Health Education & Behavior stands as a testament to the fact that a broad evidence base, rather than a single approach to health improvement, is necessary to have an impact on social change, more empirical evidence is needed on structural approaches if we are to be successful in understanding and improving health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, states, and nations.