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Behavioral Medicine and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in China: Current Challenges and Future Directions

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Abstract

Purpose

We describe the emergence of recent public health challenges in China, particularly those regarding lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We also summarize some recent examples of behavioral medicine research and practice in relation to the prevention and control of NCDs in China. Finally, we describe recent changes in the public health system in China and how behavioral medicine research and practice can be incorporated into this system to address these public health challenges.

Methods

We considered research and policy literature from both China and Western countries in order to evaluate the relevance of the field of behavioral medicine for addressing the rising NCDs in China.

Results

Rapid economic development and related social and environmental changes have brought about increasing wealth and lifestyle changes in China, along with new public health challenges related to the prevention and control of NCDs. The field of behavioral medicine has much to offer China in addressing these public health challenges. Although behavioral medicine research and practice are still at an early stage in China, there are encouraging signs of its development, particularly resulting from international collaborations with researchers from Western countries. The next stage of this field’s development in China will involve increased integration of behavioral medicine into public health education, training, and the health system. However, this process of integration will need to build on China’s traditional approaches to public health training, research, and practice.

Conclusions

Although the field of behavioral medicine in public health is still in its infancy in China, we argue that the practice and principles of behavioral medicine are important for successfully addressing the substantial burden of NCDs now and in the future.

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Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 94 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

    Ding Ding

  2. Institute of Health Education, Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Xuefeng Zhong

  3. The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Joseph Tak-Fai Lau

  4. Academic Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Brian Oldenburg

  5. Global Health and Society Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Xuefeng Zhong & Brian Oldenburg

Authors
  1. Ding Ding
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  2. Xuefeng Zhong
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  3. Joseph Tak-Fai Lau
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  4. Brian Oldenburg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ding Ding.

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All authors have conformed to the Helsinki Declaration concerning human rights and informed consent, and they have followed correct procedures concerning treatment of humans and animals in research.

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Ding, D., Zhong, X., Lau, J.TF. et al. Behavioral Medicine and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in China: Current Challenges and Future Directions. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 584–589 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9393-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9393-7

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