Transcript Key Concepts / Profession

Foundations of Health Education
Key Concepts / Review
 What is “health”?
 Gold Standard Definition:

“A dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
• (WHO)
 Communicable vs Noncommunicable Diseases
 Multicausation Disease Model
 Focuses on non-communicable diseases

Genetics; Behavior; Environment; Social Circumstances; Access to
Care
Current Status of Health Education/Promotion
 21st Century – “Behavioral patterns are the single most
prominent domain of influence over health prospects in the
United States” (McGinnis et al., 2002, p. 82)
Figure 1.3: Infectious and
chronic disease death rates in
the U.S, 1900-2000.
(Pearson Ed, 2012)
(OECD Handbook, 2013)
Life Expectancy – 2012 (estimated)
(CIA World Factbook, 2013)
In Other Words ….
 Health Education is about prevention.
http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_im.asp?imID=1&parentID=61&id=358
Why Prevention?
 “Many of the health problems the nation will deal
with in the balance of this century and into the next
are fully preventable.” (Minelli and Breckon, 2009, pg 21)
 “Cessation of tobacco use, moderate use of alcohol,
daily exercise, and good nutrition can prevent
literally millions of deaths and negate the need to
spend hundreds of millions of dollars on health
care.” (Minelli and Breckon, 2009, Pg 21)
Levels of Prevention
 Primary
 Secondary
 Tertiary
 Limits of Prevention
 Biological
 Technological
 Ethical Concerns
 Economic
 Success stories…
 Decrease in:

Heart disease, stroke
mortality, accidental
injuries, motor vehicle
accident deaths, cervical
cancer, lung cancer….
Good News!
 There is a demand for health education now.
 Consumerism
 Inflation
 Increase in chronic disease
Key Players
 Secretary of Health &
Human Services

 U.S. Surgeon General

_________________
________________
 “Our goal for all
Americans to live
healthier, more
prosperous, and more
productive lives.”
 “Public health is a
beautiful mission. There
is no nobility to it
because, ultimately, it
isn’t about one person or
one family, it is a bigger
thing.”
Health Education as a
Profession
Professions
 What do you think of in a profession or a
professional?
 “a vocation or occupation requiring advanced
education and training, and involving intellectual
skills.” (Agnes, 2001, pg 1145 – 1146)
Characteristics of a Profession
 Extensive training
required

 Standards of practice

Competencies
Accredited institutions
 Commitment to serving a
 Work is based on
specialized body of
knowledge and expertise

Theoretical base
social value

Code of Ethics
 Professional autonomy
Health Education & Health Educators
 What is health education?
 What is a health educator?
 Health educators… “work to encourage healthy
lifestyles and wellness through educating individuals
and communities about behaviors that can prevent
diseases, injuries, and other problems.”

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010)
Importance of Health Educators
 “We would be terribly remiss if we did not seize the
opportunity presented by health promotion and
disease prevention to dramatically cut health-care
costs, to prevent the premature onset of disease and
disability, and to help all Americans achieve
healthier, more productive lives.”

Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of Health & Human Services,
1989-1993
What does a Health Educator do?
 Job Responsibilities:
 Seven core competencies:
Assess needs
 Plan health education
 Implement health education
 Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
 Administer and manage health education
 Serve as a health education resource person
 Communicate and advocate for health and health education


(NCHEC.org, 2010)
Work Settings
 Medical care settings
 Colleges and universities
 Schools
 Public health departments
 Nonprofit organizations
 Private businesses
Training for health educators
 Baccalaureate programs:
 Prepare graduates in all seven of the core competencies
 Internships are required
 Certification is available
 Still voluntary for now….
Health Education as a profession
 Is Health Education a profession?
 Until recently…
 Too much diversity in preparatory programs
 No single set of accreditation standards
 Uncertainty about qualifications
 No quality assurance for consumers

(Henderson, Wolfe, Cortese & Mcintosh, 1981)
Good news though…
 About 250 academic programs available
 Profession-wide Code of Ethics has been endorsed
 Continuing research continues to provide a strong
theoretical base for interventions
 Professional organizations are working together
 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has recognized
Health Educators as a profession!

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos063.htm