Heath Education

• Health is a subjective concept with varying meanings to different people and communities
• Good health may be perceived as being free of disease or disability, or managing a condition effectively
• Multicellular organisms require specialized exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange due to a higher surface area to volume ratio
• Health education occurs in various settings including schools, worksites, healthcare organizations, health departments, voluntary health agencies, and community settings
• Lawrence Green defined health education as a combination of learning experiences designed to facilitate voluntary actions conducive to health
• Health education involves consciously constructed opportunities for learning to improve health literacy, including knowledge improvement and life skills development
• Health literacy refers to the ability to access, understand, appraise, and communicate health information to promote and maintain good health
• Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health
• Primary health care is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound, and socially acceptable methods made universally accessible to individuals and families
• Quality of life refers to an individual's perceptions of their position in life in relation to their goals, expectations, and concerns
• The rational model in health education is based on the premise that increasing knowledge prompts behavior change
• The Health Belief Model explains human health decision-making based on constructs like perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy
• The Extended Parallel Process Model proposes that people engage in appraisal processes when presented with a risk message
• The Transtheoretical Model of Change views behavior change as a progression through stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance
• The Theory of Planned Behavior states that intent is influenced by attitude towards behavior, perception of social norms, and perceived behavioral control
• Social Cognitive Theory suggests that self-efficacy, goals, and outcome expectancies affect the likelihood of changing health behavior
• Communication Theory emphasizes multilevel strategies for effective health communication
• Diffusion of Innovation Theory categorizes people into innovators, early adopters, early majority adopters, late majority adopters, and laggards
• The history of health education as a profession is over a hundred years old, but the concept of educating about health dates back to the dawn of humans
• In pre-historic times, health education likely took place through trial and error, with individuals warning others against harmful substances and encouraging the use of beneficial ones
• The Romans, known for their exceptional engineering, retained and built upon Greek medical knowledge, focusing on water and sewage systems, human anatomy, and surgery
• The Greeks emphasized the balance of physical, mental, and spiritual health, with figures like Hippocrates making significant contributions to medical knowledge
• Ancient cultures practiced good hygiene, built infrastructure like paved streets and sewer systems, and relied on spiritual explanations for disease before scientific understanding
• In the Middle Ages, disease was often attributed to sin or disobedience to God, leading to epidemics like the bubonic plague
• The Renaissance saw advancements in medical knowledge, with figures like Edward Jenner pioneering vaccination and improvements in hygiene practices
• The Age of Enlightenment brought about the understanding of the interdependence of mind and body, as well as significant discoveries in disease prevention like the vaccine for smallpox
• In the 1800s, the focus shifted to public health measures, with key developments such as the Germ theory of disease and the introduction of medical inspections in schools
• In the United States, health education initiatives began in colonial schools and evolved over time to include mandates for teaching physiology and hygiene in public schools
• The 1970s marked the era of prevention in health education, with the formation of national health organizations and reports emphasizing the importance of promoting health and preventing disease
• In the 1980s and 1990s, there were significant advancements in health education standards, competencies, and professional recognition, leading to the establishment of Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES)
• In the 2000s, health education saw further developments in ethics, competencies, and education standards, aligning with outcome-based education and practice
• The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, aimed to expand health care coverage and support health education specialists in their work
• The Rational Model:

  • Also known as the "knowledge, attitudes, practices model" (KAP)
  • Based on the premise that increasing a person's knowledge will prompt a behavior change
• The Health Belief Model:

  • Explains human health decision-making and subsequent behavior
  • Based on constructs like perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy
• The Extended Parallel Process Model:

  • Proposes that people engage in two appraisal processes when presented with a risk message
  • Focuses on determining susceptibility to a threat, severity of the threat, response efficacy, and self-efficacy
• The Transtheoretical Model of Change:

  • Views behavior change as a progression through stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance
  • Offers specific intervention strategies based on the recipient's stage of change
• The Theory of Planned Behavior:

  • Intent influenced by attitude towards behavior, perception of social norms, and perceived behavioral control
• Social Cognitive Theory:

  • Factors affecting the likelihood of changing health behavior include self-efficacy, goals, and outcome expectancies
• Communication Theory:

  • Multilevel strategies are necessary depending on the target audience, such as tailored messages, social marketing, and mass media campaigns
• Diffusion of Innovation Theory:

  • Describes five categories of people: innovators, early adopters, early majority adopters, late majority adopters, and laggards
  • Helps in planning and implementing customized strategies based on adopter characteristics