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MODULE: 4 Health Education(1), (2)

While offering screenings or other health services is key to many public health initiatives, education and awareness is necessary to change attitudes toward healthcare.

“Simply providing a service does not mean that it will be used. The target population may also need awareness of the need for service, awareness of the availability of transportation and child care, and awareness of the affordability of services and the flexibility of clinic hours.”(3)

Health service delivery by community-based health groups cannot replace regular doctor visits. Public health organizations must educate and raise awareness about the importance of disease prevention. The initial aim of health education is to get patients to consider and internalize the following questions:(4)

1. Do I perceive that I am susceptible?
2. Is this susceptibility serious?
3. Do the benefits in taking action overcome the cost in money and effort?
4. Are services or help available?

In his book on community health education methods, Professor Robert Bensley acknowledges that “one of the most difficult tasks for behavioral scientists and health educators is changing individual or group behavior.”(5) This module discusses key health education techniques geared toward overcoming this challenge by ensuring the message gets across.

Tailoring the Message

“Programs found to be effective in one population cannot be assumed to be equally effective with a different population.”(6)

For patients to engage with a health education presentation, they must feel like the message is pertinent to them. Psychologists Richard Petty and John Cacioppo have found people are more likely to process information thoughtfully if they perceive it to be personally relevant.(7) It is particularly important that demographic and cultural factors are taken into consideration when teaching in underserved communities with high populations of minorities and/or immigrants.

“We (health educators) have to begin with developing an awareness and knowledge of culture which implies a non-judgmental acceptance… The final stage is to be able to perform a specific task while taking culture into account such that the outcome is better than it would have been had the outcome of the client’s culture not been considered.”(8)

Specific Techniques

As a general rule, health educators should be interactive, affable, and knowledgeable in order to engage the audience and make sure the material sticks. Here are some proven techniques in health education:

Discussion Guides and Group Discussions

Presentation outlines and discussion guides have been shown to contextualize information, and keep audience members engaged during a presentation.

“A discussion guide can be a helpful tool to enhance a presentation. The guide may consist of a brief outline and talking points or discussion questions related to the presentation. The guide can highlight major themes and messes, provide background information such as scientific facts when appropriate, suggest related activities, and list resources for more information. It provides the audience with an outline for the presentation, a convenient tool for note taking, and a way to take the information from the presentation home.”(9)

For most people, simply listening to a lecture is not the optimal learning style.(10) Engaging, interactive, and thought-provoking discussion fosters long-term learning, and can help mobilize patients to seek regular medical care.

Print Materials(11)

Because medically underserved communities typically have low literacy rates, it is important to make any pamphlets, brochures, posters, and other printed materials simple and comprehensible. They should use short sentences, include culturally relevant diagrams and pictures, and add interaction with possible.

“The more readers interact with the material, the more likely they are to remember and incorporate the information. Add interaction to materials by leaving blank spaces for readers to write goals, adding checkboxes, or posing questions for the readers to answer.”(12)

Marketing

In addition to maximizing the reach of health screenings and other events, public service announcements over the radio, posters in churches and schools, and other publicity efforts can include simple educational material.

Module 5: The Importance of Quality Care For The Medically Underserved >>

Footnotes

Public Health Course

• Table of Contents
• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3
• Module 4
• Module 5