%0 Journal Article
%T Does a Multi-Dimensional Concept of Health Include Spirituality? Analysis of Japan Health Science Council¡¯s Discussionson WHO¡¯s ¡®Definition of Health¡¯ (1998)
%J International Journal of Applied Sociology
%@ 2169-9739
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.5923/j.ijas.20120206.03
%X The Health Science Council of Japan proposed to include the term ¡®spirituality¡¯ in WHO¡¯s ¡®definition of health¡¯ over three meetings. However, no consensus on the proposal was achieved. This study uses the minutes of the meetings to explore the members¡¯ implicit understanding of ¡®health¡¯, varied interpretations of ¡®spirituality¡¯, and reservations against the inclusion of ¡®spirituality¡¯ in the official definition of health. By analyzing the Japanese perspective on the subject, this study seeks to contribute to the conceptual definition of ¡®health¡¯ and elucidate the challenges involved in incorporating ¡®spirituality¡¯ as a dimension of health in the field of contemporary medical care.
%K WHO
%K Definition of Health
%K Spirituality
%K the Health Science Council of the Former Ministry of Health and Welfare
%U http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ijas.20120206.03.html