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Health education: nature and purpose
Even a limited discussion of the nature of health promotion is beyond the scope of this article.
We should, however, note that there is a divergence of opinion about its major goals and that it is not synonymous with health education. Its philosophy has been discussed in detail elsewhere.1-6
Health promotion may be viewed as a global strategy whichincorporates health education.
Health education is defined operationally as:
‘ .... any intentional activity which is designed to achieve health or illness related learning, ie, some relatively permanent change in an individual’s capability or disposition. Effective health education may, thus, produce changes in knowledge and understanding or ways of thinking; it may influence or clarify values; it may bring about some shift in belief or attitude; it may facilitate the acquisition of skills; it may even effect changes in behaviour or lifestyle’ (p11). 2
Effectiveness
We are, at present, witnessing a demand for evidence-based medicine within a general climate of cost cutting and a concern to demonstrate ‘health gain’ and it is not surprising that health education should be subject to the same demands. The principles and practice of evaluating health education cannot be addressed here.2 7 8 It is, however, worth noting the fact that health education interventions are frequently under resourced and often fail to meet acceptable theoretical and professional standards; careful scrutiny of programme design is, therefore, essential before drawing conclusions about effectiveness and efficiency.9 The success of the programmes discussed below are, in no small way, due to their meeting minimum design standards.
Health education success: a selective review
Seven specific areas have been selected for review:
• Childhood asthma
• Oral health
• Accident prevention
• Breast feeding
• Nutrition education and children
• Sexual health
• Social and mental health in respect of bullying, child abuse, and preschool education.
These particular topics were selected …