Decision Making And Health Education

A philosophical position is proposed that assesses the significance of the present emphasis focused on health decision making. A review of the theoretical perspectives on the decision‐making process is outlined. A position statement is offered that clarifies the function and role of decision making within the field of Health Education. A rationale is provided that proposes health decision making efforts be limited to those health areas where definitive epidemiologic evidence is available linking a health behavior (i.e., smoking) to a major health problem (i.e., lung cancer). Recommendations for the future direction of investigations in this area arc presented in the form of research questions.