BACKGROUND: No theoretical references regarding the use of the Health Promotion Model, by Nola J. Pender, could be found in Brazil, in spite of its extensive use by American, Asiatic and European researchers to analyze behaviors leading to health promotion. AIM: To analyze the diagram of the Health Promotion Model, by Nola J. Pender. METHOD: To use the method to analyze theories proposed by Meleis 1997. RESULTS: the analysis allowed to evidence that the graphical representation of the diagram is of easy understanding, all the components are described in the text by the author, which can be a facilitator factor to use this model by nurses in the assistance and research. However, the linkings between some components are not well defined. It was still demonstrated that some terms of the diagram are of difficult translation into the Portuguese language. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: when analyzing the diagram of the model above mentioned we could increase our options regarding theoretical referentials, which enhanced the nursing actions.
Health promotion; Models
