While research teams are producing relevant and valid knowledge for health promotion, there is not yet a structured manual and distinct field of health promotion research. This timely 'state-of-the-art' handbook contributes to the structuring of such a field of research. 

This collection of original contributions explores the major epistemological, methodological, and ethical challenges facing health promotion research. It brings together experts from different 'research traditions' that coexist in the field. The handbook covers the existing knowledge production and sharing practices to delineate the 'discipline' and its agenda for future research. Ultimately, it contributes to the creation of a global community of health promotion researchers. 

The handbook is organized by four types of practices (what people actually do) studied in health promotion; the practices of:

• Individuals and populations in relation to their health and its determinants
• Professionals who intervene to improve population health
• Policy-makers and institutions involved in the advocacy, design, and implementation of policies and programs
• Researchers and innovators (academic scholars and global agencies) through which investment in research and production of evidence-based guidelines are made.

Global Handbook of Health Promotion Research, Vol. 1: Mapping Health Promotion Research is a highly relevant reference tool for researchers and graduate students in health promotion, public health, education and socio-health sciences; practitioners in health, medical, and social sectors; policy-makers; and health research administrators.

Louise Potvin is currently professor at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health (ESPUM), Université de Montréal, Canada. She is the scientific director of the Centre de recherche en santé publique, the largest grouping of researchers dedicated to public health in Québec. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Community Approaches and Health Inequalities. She is a founder of Population Health Intervention Research, a domain of scientific endeavour that seeks to develop a cumulative body of knowledge on public health interventions, their planning, implementation, scaling up and sustainability. She is also a leading figure in health promotion research, more specifically through her work on the role of local environments in health inequality and local intersectoral action.

Didier Jourdan is the chair holder of the UNESCO chair 'Global Health & Education' and head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for 'Research in Education & Health'. He is full professor, former dean of the Faculty of Education and vice president of University of Clermont Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand France. He used to be president of the 'prevention, education and health promotion' commission of the French High Council for Public Health and director of the Health Promotion Division of the French National Public Health Agency. His research activities focus on the impact of health promotion interventions, particularly with regard to health inequalities, implementation mechanisms, professional activity and ethical issues.