Health Education Capstone
Respond to your classmate posts with a substantive response that addresses the following .Review the determinants of health that were mentioned by your classmates.
Explain how one of these determinants could be reduced or eliminated by the work of a health educator. (i.e. describe specifically what could be done to reduce or eliminate that particular determinant?).
What barriers may exist for the health educator in working on this determinant? Chelsey Black Prevention in health promotion and education is essential to reducing disease, health care expenditures, and improving quality of life.
It is best to stop a bad behavior before the problem becomes too far gone to effectively handle. To do this a behavior change is required. Teaching health behavior change encourages individuals to learn strategies for planning, practicing, and prioritizing wellness.
There is an intrinsic link between having knowledge of health and wellness and better health outcomes. (Crossman, 2016) However, people may not easily change their destructive behaviors and it may become discouraging at times. Even with increased knowledge it may be difficult to discern fact from a fad diet, for instance.
Our overall goal and purpose as health educators is to fine tune that knowledge with evidence-based information. We must offer clarity as health and wellness is complex and dynamic.
Lastly, we should provide tools of access to empower the average health care consumers. Individuals can prevent their health from deteriorating and make the appropriate changes to do so when they feel a sense of empowerment. This can often be accomplished by creating a health education/health promotion program.
The steps involved include a community health assessment and improvement, program planning, implementation, and evaluation. (Bensley & Brookins-Fisher, 2009) The main role of a health educator is to encourage and educate individuals, families, organizations, and communities to take an active role in promoting behaviors that align with safe and healthy environments and lifestyles. (Bensley & Brookins-Fisher, 2009) The determinants of health include social, physical, and behavioral factors.
This may include socioeconomic factors, access to health care services, environments that you live and work in, and diet, exercise, and drug use. (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) It is important to keep these factors in mind as you plan your program to better understand the limitations of your target population. Bensley, R. J., & Brookins-Fisher, J. (2009). Community health education methods: A practical guide. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Crossman, J. M. (2016). Planning, practicing, and prioritizing wellness through an integrative behavior change plan. Health Education Journal, 75(7), 823-832. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [USGOVHHS] (2010, November 23).
Determinants of health: A framework for reaching Healthy People 2020 goals.