Health as expanding consciousness: implications for health policy as praxis.

The authors of this column explore the implications of Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness for health policy. One aim is to expand the theory's practice methodology and praxis methods to the development of health policy, an under-represented area in the health as expanding consciousness literature. The second aim is to suggest a framework for policy development, the health as expanding consciousness policy protocol, and explore the possible impact that theory-guided policy may have on community and nursing efforts to transform health and public policy.