HEALTH MANAGEMENT
(Principals Of Health Education In
Nursing)
Definition of health
The World Health Organisation defines health as "a
state of complete, physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity".
It may also be defined as "able
to live most and serve best". Health in general is a value asset, though
often one does not realise the value until it is lost through illness.
Health influences one's way of life. It improves personal
efficiency and helps the individual in the attainment of most of his personal
goals.
Effective Health Management
In order to attain the highest level
of effective health system, awareness on the importance of the health education
and sustained practices of the said guidelines is the most important component
in the health care delivery system for all.
Definition of Health Education
The World Health Organisation defines health education as
the "sum total of all the
experiences, which favourably influence
knowledge, skills, attitudes and practices of all individuals towards his
personal and community health".
Health Education may also be defined as a process of change within the human organism, which is related to personal, and
community health goals.
According
to Alma-Ata declaration (1978), 'Health education is a process aimed at encouraging people to want to be
healthy to know how to stay healthy to do what they can individually and
collectively to maintain health and seek help when needed'.
Health education is the act of getting people to do
something for themselves to attain better health. The nurse should remember
that the practice of health education is not merely a simple speech needed only
for ignorant people, but it is applied for all, rich and poor, young and old, educated
and illiterate, sick and health individuals at all times, especially when they
have "felt needs" for health.
Health education involves teaching about reducing health
risk factors, increasing a person' s level of wellness and taking specific protective
health measures.
Aims and Objectives of health
education
To help people to develop an
awareness of health needs and problems.
To acquire knowledge and skills on
matters related to health and health resources.
To develop desirable attitudes towards
personal and community health and to solve their health problems by their own
actions and efforts.
To participate and co-operate with
health workers and use health services for their maximum benefit.
To adopt the altered health and
function.
Principles of health education
Some
basic principles that should be followed while giving health education.
1. Interest - The interest of the
individual or the group should be considered. For example a patient may want to
know more about his illness rather than
facts about environmental hygiene.
2. Acceptable - It should be acceptable
to the people as well as the leaders of the community. People' s customs,
beliefs, traditional habits and ways of living must be considered. For example
vegetarians should not be advised to take meat.
3. Practicable - It should be
practicable. Consider the educational level, income of the family, capacity to
understand and the mental make up. For example, asking the mother with a poor
income to take plenty of milk or meat is
meaningless. Similarly asking her to
take lettuce a leafy vegetable that is not commonly available or used
in this country will not be practicable.
Also asking the mother to take plenty of iron,
calcium and protein will not mean much to her, instead of which, mentioning
foods rich in the above nutrients will be more helpful.
4. Participation - This is usually done
by allowing free discussion.
5. Known to - One should start teaching
the learners unknown from what they
already knew and then explain the new knowledge.
Reinforcement- Repetition helps learning,
Facts and points should be repeated frequently as it assists better memory and
understanding.
7. Motivation - Motivation is another
important factor to bear in mind while teaching.
The desire to learn, change or modify the
behaviour of the learner must be created.
Demonstration- This is showing people exactly what to do by practical
ways.
9. Learning by - Allow the individual to
learn to do doing things by himself.
Give sufficient time to practice when possible.
Establish good inter-personal
relationship. This should start from the very beginning. The nurse should not
be over - anxious or disrespectful even when eating with illiterate and poor people.
Allow the groups or individuals to express their view and clear their doubts.
Adequate planning is essential even
if it is a five-minute talk.
Health education should be carried
out with the co-operation of the other staff in the department and in the
community with the help of the local leaders, school teachers, dais etc.
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