A thorough idea on principles, tools, aids, objectives of health education

1. Health
Education
Department of Public Health Dentistry
Shubham Parmar
Final year

2. Contents
Definition
What is health ?
Objectives of Health Education
Health Education vs Propaganda
Principles of Health Education
Stages in adoption of new ideas and practices
Educational Aids used in Health Education
Methods of Health Education

3. Health education comprises consciously
constructed opportunities for learning
involving some form of communication
designed to improve health literacy,
including improving knowledge, and
developing life skills which are conducive
to individual and community health.
-WHO Health Promotion Glossary 1998

4. What is health ?
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.
-World Health Organization

5. Objectives of Health Education
Informing people (cognitive objective) people are informed
about different diseases, their etiology, and how to prevent
them. Information increases knowledge and helps people
become aware of their health problems

6. Motivating people (affective objective) It is
concerned with clarifying, forming or changing
attitudes, beliefs, values or opinions. It is necessary
motivate people to alter their lifestyle so that is
becomes favourable to promoting health and
preventing diseases
Guiding into action (behavioural objective) It is
concerned with the development of skills and action

7. Health Education vs Propaganda
Health Education Propaganda
Knowledge and skills are actively acquired
in the process.
Knowledge is instilled in the mind in this
process.
Drives people to think for themselves. Prevents thinking in individuals.
Primitive desirers are disciplined in this
process
Primitive desires are aroused and
stimulated.
Results in a reflective behaviour and
makes people use judgement before
acting upon it.
Process results in reflexive behaviour and
makes people aim at impulsive actions.
Process appeals to a reason Process appeals to a emotion.
Helps to develop individuality, personality
and self expression.
Develops different patterns of attitude
and behaviours according to medium
used.
Knowledge is acquired through self reliant
activity
Knowledge is passively received and
spoon fed.
Aimed at developing good habits,
favourable attitudes and skills in
individuals and is behaviour oriented
No change in attitude oe behaviour of
individual is seen and process is
information oriented.

8. Principles of Health Education
Credibility
Interest
Participation
Motivation
Comprehension
Reinforcement
Learning by doing
Known to unknown
Setting an example
Good human relations
Feedback
Community leaders
Seed, Soil, Sower

9. It is the degree to which the message is perceived as
trustworthy by the receiver
It should be scientifically proven, based on fact and
should be compatible with local culture and social
goals
Credibility

10. Interest
The health education topic should be of interest to
the people only then will they listen to it
The educator needs to identify the needs and
interests of the people and arrange a session
accordingly

11. Motivation
Motivation is defined as the fundamental desire for
learning in and individual
Health education can be facilitated by motivation
provided by the desire to achieve individual goals

12. Comprehension
Comprehension refers to the level of understanding
of the people receiving health education
Health educator must first determine the level of
literacy and understanding of the audience and act
accordingly
Usage of technical or medical terms must be avoided

13. Reinforcement
It is not possible for people to
learn or adapt to a process or
behaviour in short period of time
Repetition is needed in
health education
Should be done at regular
intervals
Called as the BOOSTER DOSE in
health education

14. Learning by doing
It is easier to learn a new thing if the learning process
is accompanied by doing the new thing
It is better instilled in the minds of people

15. Known to unknown
The health educator must first find out how much the
people already know
Only then can he give them knowledge as per their
requirement
The existing knowledge of people can act as basic
step upon which new knowledge is placed

16. The health educator must
follow what he preaches
He should set an example
For other people to follow
Setting An Example

17. Good human relations
The health educator should ne able to maintain
friendly relations with the people
He should have a kind and sympathetic attitude
towards the people
He should always be helpful to them in clarifying
their doubts

18. Feedback

19. Community leaders
Community leaders can be used to reach out to the
community and convince them the need fo health
education
Community leaders have a rapport and are familiar
with the people of the community and can be used
to provide health education to the people of the
community

20. Seed, Soil, Sower
Soil is the community
Seed is the information
Sower is the person giving the information

21. Stages in adoption of new ideas and
practices
Unawareness Awareness Interest Evaluation Trial

22. Educational Aids used in Health Education
Educational
Aids
Auditary Visual
Projected
Non projected
Audio-Visual

23. Auditary Aids
Auditary aids are useful in reproducing any kind of
words spoken and also help in repeating the same.
Megaphones, gramophone, tape recorders, radios,
sound amplifiers are some auditory aids used in
health education

25. Visual Aids
They can be classified as projected and non
projected aids
Projected Aids- these are aids than can be shown on
a screen
Real life situations can be enacted in films
Process is self explanatory
Special interest among audience is created
Leaves a lasting impression on the mind of people

26.  Non Projected Aids- these are visual aids that do not require any projection
 Examples – blackboard, photographs, charts, posters, flashcards

27. Combination of Audio-Visual Aids
 Sound and sight is combined together to create a better presentation
 Examples- televisions, Tape and slide combinations, video cassette players and
recorders, cinemas, folk dances, puppet shows, dramas.

28. Methods of Health Education
Individual approach
Group approach
Mass approach

29. Individual Approach
A one to one communication of the educator and the
patient takes place.
Can be done in the doctors consultation room

30. Advantages Disadvantages
Discussion argument and
persuasion of an
to change behavior is
possible
Small number of people
can benefit
There is opportunity for
asking questions and
clearing doubts
Health education is given
only to people who come
in contact with the
educator or public health
personel

31. Group approach
Lectures – A carefully prepared oral presentation of
facts, organized thoughts and ideas by a qualified
person.
It has an opening statement which gives the theme
of the lecture.
Group should not be more than 30 people
One way communication

32. Symposium – A series of speech on a selected topic
Each speaker presents a brief aspect of the topic
No discussion among speakers
Audience is allowed to ask questions at the end
The chairman makes a summary at the end of the
session

33. Group Discussion – Group should not be more than
6-12 members
Face to face interaction of individuals takes place
Participants are seated in a circle
A group leader is present who initiates the subject
and prevents side conversations and encourages
equal
participation
Unequal participation of
members may be there

34. Panel Discussion – Headed by a chairman who
opens the session and introduces the speakers and
keeps the discussion going
Panel of 4-8 experts sit and discuss a topic in front
audience
Chairman sums up different views expressed

35. Workshop – Consists of a series of meetings with
emphasis on individual work with the help of
resource persons
The total workshop is divided into small groups
The individuals work, solve a part of the problem,
contribute to group discussion and leave with a
of action for the problem

36. Role playing/socio drama – Size of the group
should be of about 25 people
Audience should actively take part by suggesting
alternative solutions and even taking part in the
drama
Situation is dramatized to make the communication
is effective
Useful for health education for children
Followed by discussion of problem

37. Demonstrations – Procedure is carried out step-by
step in front of audience
Has a high motivation value
Audience can then carry out the procedure
themselves with expert help

38. Mass Approach
Health education given to a large community or the
general public
Small investment is required to reach a large number of
people
Quickest method to educate a large number of people
People of all socio-economic status irrespective of caste
creed and religion have access to health education

39. Only one way communication is possible
People cannot ask and clear their doubts if they have
any
No feedback is possible

40. Various mass media used for health education
Newspaper Posters Television
Radio

41. Thank you