"Behavioural prevention aims to prevent behaviour that poses a risk to health (e.g. smoking, eating habits, lack of dental care). Conditional prevention on the other hand deals with technical, organisational and social conditions within society and the environment, and their impact on the occurrence of diseases (e.g. impact of stress)" [Oberender et al. 2002].
According to [Walter et al. 2001] prevention should be understood as "…all target-orientated measures and activities, which prevent, make less likely or delay specific damage to health."
Reference is made here to the definition of the promotion of health, which is used in the same breath by players in the field of science, practice and politics:
According to [Kruse 2002] " the definition of the promotion of health refers to the targeted influencing of attitudes, behaviour and living, working and environmental conditions with the aim of increasing health promotion services and motivating people to live a healthy lifestyle. These factors are in a complimentary relationship with preventative treatment and care strategies. Contrary to these they aim to provide clarification and advice to individuals with the general aim of encouraging them to take responsibility for the preservation of health, independence and responsibility for oneself and consequently to develop a lifestyle that is characterised by the avoidance of risk factors, a healthy diet and regular physical and intellectual stimulation. This should not only reduce the incidence of disease (a target that is in the foreground of primary prevention), but also make a substantial contribution to psychological well-being, self-confidence and the ability to cope."