CHWS key terms

The conditions where people are born, grow, work, live, and age, plus the systems shaping daily life, such as income, housing, education, and food access, that strongly influence health outcomes.

The state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their best health, achieved by removing barriers such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of transportation or insurance.

An active, deliberate process of making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life, encompassing physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, and environmental dimensions rather than merely the absence of illness.

The three stages of preventive action: primary, which stops illness before it starts; secondary, which detects disease early; and tertiary, which reduces complications and disability after disease is present.

A characteristic, behavior, exposure, or genetic trait that raises a person's statistical likelihood of developing a disease or injury, such as tobacco use, high blood pressure, or physical inactivity.

A health-related habit or lifestyle pattern a person can change, such as diet, physical activity, alcohol use, or smoking, as opposed to fixed factors like age or family history.

A brief, systematic test or questionnaire given to people without symptoms to identify those who may have a condition and need further diagnostic evaluation, such as blood pressure or depression screening.

Any action a person takes that affects health, including preventive habits like exercise and vaccination as well as risk behaviors like poor diet, sedentary living, or substance use.

The process of adopting healthier habits or ending harmful ones, usually through small achievable steps, self-monitoring, social support, and adjusting plans when setbacks occur.

A person's belief in their own ability to carry out a specific action or succeed at a task, which strongly predicts whether they will attempt and sustain a health behavior.

A collaborative, person-centered counseling style that uses open questions, reflective listening, and affirmation to help people explore and strengthen their own reasons for change.

Holding two conflicting feelings about a behavior at the same time, such as wanting to quit smoking while enjoying it, a normal stage that coaches explore rather than argue against.

A model describing readiness to change in steps: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and sometimes relapse, with coaching matched to the person's current stage.

A specific, written commitment stating what the client will do, how much, when, and how often, ideally rated by the client for confidence so the plan can be adjusted.

A goal stated to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, which makes progress easier to track and increases the chance of follow-through.

Systematically tracking one's own behavior, such as logging steps, food, or mood, which raises awareness and is one of the most effective supports for behavior change.

Restating or paraphrasing what a client has said, in a way that conveys understanding and invites them to clarify or go deeper, without judging or advising.

A lifelong practice of self-reflection, openness, and power-sharing that recognizes one's own biases and honors each person's culture, rather than claiming mastery of another group's culture.

The degree to which a person can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make informed health decisions.

Writing and speaking that uses short sentences, common everyday words, and clear organization so the audience can find, understand, and act on the information the first time.

Asking a client to explain in their own words how they will follow a plan or take a medication, which reveals misunderstanding and confirms whether the message was clear.

The standardized panel on packaged food showing serving size, calories, and key nutrients such as sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat, used to compare products and make informed choices.

Evidence-based national recommendations describing healthy eating patterns, including varied nutrient-dense foods, limited added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat, and appropriate calorie intake.

National recommendations for health, generally 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity plus two days of muscle strengthening weekly for adults, with tailored amounts for other age groups.

Movement that noticeably raises heart rate and breathing while still allowing a person to talk in short sentences, such as brisk walking or cycling on level ground.

Time spent sitting or lying awake with very low energy expenditure, such as prolonged screen time, which raises health risks even in people who otherwise meet activity guidelines.

The amount of a food a person actually serves and eats at one time, which differs from the standard serving listed on a label and strongly influences total calorie intake.

The body's and mind's response to demands or threats, which can be helpful in short bursts but harmful when prolonged, affecting mood, sleep, blood pressure, and immune function.

Practical strategies a person uses to manage stress, such as paced breathing, physical activity, problem-solving, seeking social support, and reframing unhelpful thoughts.

Paying deliberate, nonjudgmental attention to the present moment, including thoughts, feelings, and body sensations, a practice shown to reduce stress and support emotional regulation.

Everyday habits that support restful sleep, such as a consistent schedule, a dark cool room, limiting caffeine and screens before bed, and avoiding heavy meals late at night.

Use of a short validated questionnaire, such as the PHQ-9, to identify people with symptoms suggesting depression so they can be offered further assessment and care.

Connecting a client to an appropriate professional or service outside the health worker's scope, such as a clinician, dietitian, or counselor, with follow-up to confirm the connection occurred.

The legally and professionally defined set of services and activities a health worker is trained and permitted to perform, which determines when to act and when to refer.

The ethical and legal duty to protect a client's private health information, sharing it only with consent or when required by law, such as for imminent danger or reportable conditions.

A person's voluntary agreement to a service or program after receiving clear information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives, and about their right to decline.

Systematic collection and use of data to judge whether a health program was implemented as planned and whether it achieved its intended outcomes, guiding improvement and funding decisions.

A measurable statement describing the activities or outputs a program will deliver, such as the number of workshops held or participants reached, rather than changes in health status.

A measurable statement of the change a program intends to produce in participants, such as improved knowledge, behavior, or health indicators, usually stated with a target and timeframe.

A systematic process of gathering data about a community's health problems, resources, and priorities to guide planning and ensure programs address real local concerns.