The Red Lotus Health Promotion Model: a new model for holistic, ecological, salutogenic health promotion practice

Issue addressed There is a need for a system of values and principles consistent with modern health promotion that enables practitioners to use these values and principles to understand health and in their needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation practice. Method Grounded theory, document analysis and the authors' own practice experience were used to systematically collect and analyse data from key health promotion literature and to develop the Red Lotus Health Promotion Model. Results The Red Lotus Health Promotion Model is a new model for holistic, ecological, salutogenic health promotion practice. It is distinct from other health promotion models in that it incorporates a system of values and principles that is applied across the phases of health promotion, including determining the health paradigm, needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. Conclusion The Red Lotus Health Promotion Model enables practitioners to proactively and purposefully put into action a connected system of values and principles across the phases of a health promotion process. So what? The Red Lotus Health Promotion Model fills a gap in the suite of health promotion models available to practitioners. It supports practitioners in their efforts to enhance the quality of modern health promotion practice.