Health knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) - A basis for health promotion policy in Israel

Objective: To review how health promotion policy can be based on research data. Data sources: The Department of Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Israel, in collaboration with Midgam Research and Consultation Company and the Israel Center for Disease Control have conducted ongoing research on health knowledge, attitudes, and practice in Israel as a basis for health policy. Main findings: Based on data from 1995 to 2000: 1. There is a positive trend in healthy dietary habits. 2. There is no decrease in smoking rates. 3. There is an increase in drinking rates of wine. 4. There is an increase in aerobic exercise. More Israelis declare they eat healthy foods, but currently this is only for 50% of the population. There is a need for health promotion efforts to further increase positive dietary habits. There is an immediate need for extensive health promotion efforts to decrease smoking rates in Israel. Also, there is a need for health promotion campaigns to decrease drinking in Israel. Although more people are participating in aerobic physical exercise, there is a need to further increase this number. Conclusion: Data on health knowledge, attitudes, and practice is an important source for health promotion policy. By trends seen in a national survey of health knowledge, attitudes, and practice conducted every two years, additional health promotion policy can be shaped.