The allied health professions and health promotion: a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis

Health promotion is central to the Government's agenda for improving health in the context of an ageing population. Allied health professionals (AHPs) are actively involved with a number of current health promotion priority areas, including smoking cessation, reducing obesity, increasing exercise and maintaining mental health, and are being encouraged to expand this role. It is widely thought, however, that their true potential for health promotion has been underutilised. In comparison with the medical and nursing professions, AHPs are an under-researched sector of the health workforce and no comprehensive studies examining their role in health promotion have been undertaken. In order to inform future AHP policy and practice, there is therefore a need to provide an assessment of the current and potential contribution to health promotion of this important group of professionals.