Using communicative action in the primary prevention of cancer

The primary prevention of disease, including cancer, has been a major part of health promotion and health education for decades. However, the long-ter m results of these strategies have been mixed, and primary prevention as an instrument of cancer control continues to fail to live up to either public or professional expectations. The authors identify and critique two possib le factors contributing to this failure and then offer a model for the deve lopment and implementation of primary prevention strategics that addresses these factors. The model used is based on Habermas's theory of communicativ e action and recognizes the importance of a critical dialogue in health edu cation and health promotion. The primary prevention programs currently bein g conducted by the Cancer Centre for the Southern Interior are presented as an example of the model in action.