From End Treatment to Source Prevention: Socio-Ecological Approaches to Promote Research on the Environment and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases with Special Reference to China

Xi-Zhang Shan, Yong Li and Kun Lai
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Xi-Zhang Shan: School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, 55 Zhongshan Avenue West, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
Yong Li: Key Lab of Guangdong Province for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong, China
Kun Lai: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus), Tangjiawan Town, Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-8

Abstract: Globally, the pandemic of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) has become a critical public health problem. Although NCD prevention has been shifting from individual behavioral interventions to broad environmental interventions, it is still necessary to promote research on the environment and NCDs as a whole. Therefore, this conceptual paper aimed to develop a general and novel framework to advance this line of research. The framework uses socio-ecological approaches that emphasize source prevention rather than the end treatment. Specifically, this framework comprehensively covered integrative research approaches, prioritized areas, urgent efforts, innovative methodologies, and improved funding. The framework used China as a typical context, where its public health policies, similar to other nations, still focus on the end treatment of NCDs, placing emphasis on biomedical approaches and technologies. China’s relevant efforts may furnish new insights and approaches concerning NCD prevention, and these efforts may benefit the improvement of global health and well-being. Such social-ecological research efforts can help to accelerate a shift from existing individual interventions to environmental interventions, thereby ultimately achieving the effective source prevention of NCDs in China and around the globe.

Keywords: environmental intervention; comprehensive research framework; integrative research approaches; NCD prevention; socio-ecological model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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