Introduction:

health promotion constitutes a fundamental tool in medical practice since it goes beyond mere information to patients about their disease and treatment.

Objective:

to analyze the selected bibliography on health promotion and prevention.

Methods:

various personal criteria and a group of concepts and definitions on health promotion and prevention were taken as a basis in order to provoke debate and controversy among professionals. A review of dissimilar Cuban and foreign bibliographies related to this topic and related topics was carried out; different criteria were analyzed on what it really means to promote health in its three biological, psychological and social dimensions. This constitutes a tool for health personnel without distinction of profiles or levels of care depending on their work.

Conclusions:

we concluded that promotion and treatment are an inseparable part of current medical practice.