It is our position, however, that preventive medical interventions (like all health services), should be guided by the core values of health promotion. Interactions with clients should foster a sense of empowerment and increase client control over their health, thereby reducing anxiety and dependency. Health education and personal skill development strategies should be employed to enable clients to manage their health to the greatest extent possible. Self-help and mutual support strategies should also be used where appropriate. Furthermore, practitioners must consider the impact of the social context in which a client lives so as to better meet their health needs.