Public Health And Health Education Essay
The paper reviews the past and current public health and health education initiatives and utilizes the information to help build on the future of public health and health education. Since the health of the community is determined by the public health and the health professionals’ interaction, the paper aims at identifying how the future roles can be expanded. The review shows that the role of public health and health education professionals has to shift from provision of care to prevention through the creation of healthy communities. Based on the healthy people 2020, there is need to incorporate more goals into the healthy people 2030. Those goals touch on the improvement of the living conditions, promoting communities of practice for professionals and collaboration during policymaking. The paper also identified the need for scholars to use their strengths to support and promote public health and health education.Public Health And Health Education Essay
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Introduction
A healthy population solely depends on quality public health and the professionalism of health education professionals. Public health is the responsibility of several agencies that include federal, state as well as the local government agencies. The ultimate goal is to achieve essential health service to the Americans. Public Health is based on the pillars of prevention, use of science, continued interdependence, and care for those who are medically underserved. This paper will try to elucidate the emerging role of public health and health professionals in 2030 and beyond. It is also aimed at understanding the potentiality of the health systems, programs and policies and their possible impact on the future of public health and health education.Public Health And Health Education Essay
The paper also gives an assessment of personal strengths as depicted in the Strengths Finder results and how they can be used to promote public health and health education. The methodology used analysis of health-related journals and articles to reveal the gap that exists in offering health care and the use of corrective thinking to inform changes. It is worth noting that multiple level influences often define health and health behaviors (CDC, 2005). This entails the personal level which is mostly biological, and psychological, institutional level, environmental and policy levels.Public Health And Health Education Essay
The inter-relationships of these standards are dynamic hence the most effective remedies and interventions to be embraced must address the determinants at all levels. It is vital to expand and bring in a new role for public health and health professionals before the public health becomes insurmountable. Therefore, the role of public health and health professionals has to expand to focus on improvement of living conditions since it creates a healthy community instead of focusing on provision of care for the sick.Public Health And Health Education Essay
An emerging or expanded role for public health or health education professionals in 2030 and beyond
In the past, the health field has had a tremendous focus on the individual health. Healthy People 2020 initiative expanded the emphasis to focus on enhancing the social and physical environments of health (CDC, 2011). The increase in the challenges towards achieving public health calls for the integration of prevention into the continuum of education as a way of trying to understand and improve health care.
Currently, the primary threats to public health include the impending threat posed by biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism, and natural calamities such as floods, fires, hurricanes, chemical spills, tornadoes, and accidents. Also, there is the increased spread of infectious diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, mental illness, substance abuse problem, rampant violence and environmental threats (CDC, 2005).Public Health And Health Education Essay
Despite this knowledge being at the disposal of all public health stakeholders, there is still more to be done to ensure public health is excellent. The role of health care and health care professionals in the past, and currently has been channeled to the sick-care business (CDC, 2005). The emphasis is on provision of care to those who are already ill rather than embarking on prevention mechanisms that ensure the environment is safe. This poses the need for an emerging and expanded the role of healthcare and healthcare professionals. The emerging and expanded role for healthcare and healthcare professionals is the need to improve living conditions impacting on the community well-being.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Safeguarding the community from any kind of health threat is more beneficial and cheap than to commit resources in treatment. The idea behind this is to shift from the current health care system which is treatment-oriented into a health care system committed towards building a healthy community. It is essential to understand that health is deeply embedded in the places of living, learning, and working, thus, all health agencies have to focus their efforts towards a healthier community (Kresge Foundation, 2014). Therefore, improving such places guarantees a healthy community.Public Health And Health Education Essay
The health care system is changing as well as the disease and the environment. Increase in tsunamis, chronic diseases, and climate change necessitate for a different approach towards public health. This can be achieved through the application of innovation and strong leadership in the healthcare field. It is, therefore, necessary to expand the role of healthcare professionals to come up with a community of practice. To pursue public health to excellence, there is need to understand the community and have a shared future.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Having enlightened self-interest is crucial. It is clear that healthcare occurs at different levels and health issues do not conform to geopolitical boundaries (CDC, 2005). It is essential to appreciate that most people live in local communities hence the focus should be on them. This creates the need for the agencies to connect with the community people served. It is through this cooperation with the local community that public health will be achieved.
Similarly, the healthcare professionals have an expanded role to play in 2030 and beyond. They have to transform and shape the public health law education. This can take the form of faculty fellowship programs that promote educational innovations. This goal is achievable through the promotion of the innovative teaching of public health law nationally (Scott, 2016). The plan is viable through the creation of new curricular offerings in schools of law as well as in public health.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Besides, the healthcare professionals can build and share resources. It is practicable beyond the fellows’ home institutions via online libraries which offer an opportunity to foster model approaches not leaving behind the best practices for learning and teaching law. The professionals must also build a scenario of a dynamic and supportive community of practice while working in their institutions (Scott, 2016). Consequently, this would be a significant initiative towards ensuring personal growth and professional development consistently.
The communities of practice may be used to refer to individuals having a shared interest in their undertakings and collectively learn from each other leading to better performance as they regularly interact (Scott, 2016). It is not just about a group of friends or a network but somewhat more formal with an identity that is shaped by the shared realm of interest. Each professional has to exercise full commitment to the domain.Public Health And Health Education Essay
The shared competence is the different element from other groups and people. Professionals need to engage in joint activities and discussions that are related to public health (Scott, 2016). This will be helpful to each as they can exchange ideas, learn new ideas together and be able to share this information to appraise future health care decisions that will solve the existing challenges. The relationship must allow learning from each other and development of a range of resources as a way of addressing the current public health problems (Scott, 2016).
Three additional goals not found in Healthy People 2020 that should be added to the Healthy People 2030.
The Healthy People is a national effort in the United States that focuses on setting goals and objectives aimed at improving the health and well-being of its people. The healthy people 2020 initiative included several overarching goals which focus on;Public Health And Health Education Essay
“Attaining high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
Achieving health equity, eliminating disparities, and improving the health of all groups,
Creation of social and physical environments that promote good health for all,
Promoting quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages” (CDC 2011).
However, these goals seem not to be all-inclusive in terms addressing all the health care issues facing the United States. Due to this fact, there is the need to incorporate additional goals in the Healthy People 2030 to make it all-inclusive. Through a thorough assessment of the current public health situation and a reflection on the future of the public health, I propose the following goals to be included in the Healthy People 2030.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Create living conditions that promote and build healthier communities
Promote community practice for professionals to synthesize new knowledge
Engage all stakeholders in formulation of policies aimed at improving public health
These proposed goals are based on the understanding of the current federal health status and the various future scenarios. The health of the population is greatly determined by the places of residence and work. Consequently, there is need to ensure that improving the living conditions of the population will lead into a healthy community. The healthy people 2030 should incorporate this goal for it become effective in addressing health concerns of the citizens. Currently, the socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health account for the highest variance in people’s health (Kresge Foundation, 2014).Public Health And Health Education Essay
While the overall health can be attributed to clinical care, there is need to increase the focus on prevention rather than care. This will help improve the living conditions that promote healthier communities. Most professionals are more focused on sick-care business. There is a need for the public health agencies and other partners to collaborate through innovation to form community health networks of professionals across the nation. The communities will be able to share best practices and strengthen the expertise of public health agencies. Engaging all stakeholders in policy formulation will help ensure that all areas of concern are addressed through the representation of each group of interest (CDC, 2005). This will ultimately lead to improved public health in the US.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Health systems, programs, and policies that might affect public health and health education in future
Public health and health education will be profoundly impacted by the type of existing health systems, programs, and policies. The effectiveness of the above mentioned will determine how the public health status will be in the future. It is vital to have a public health system characterized by shared eligibility and benefits (CDC, 2005). This means that the system should be characterized by mutuality whereby each stakeholder has a role to play and also benefits from the interaction.
Public health encompasses the whole population hence the existence of a public health system will ensure that the citizens will have an environment that supports their well-being. A conventional health care system will also promote a learning culture among professionals within the system (CDC, 2005). This will be influential in coming up with new ideas on how to improve public health.Public Health And Health Education Essay
A range of several programs can be of great importance to the future public health and education. Having a variety of programs that allow for subscription of students in matters related to public health is of great importance. There are the desire and commitment by students in issues of public health hence the need to have more programs that support such scholars. Besides, programs related to family planning, treatment of STDs, and tuberculosis offer a promising end to the future public health (CDC, 2005). These initiatives are population-based approaches and provide direct care. There is need to increase funding for training. This is applicable at the federal level for public health, as a preventive mechanism. This will improve the public health and health education.Public Health And Health Education Essay
There are also individual policies that can impact public health significantly. An example is a policy on care of aging baby boomers. The baby boomers number is expected to be at 61million by 2030 (Knickman & Snell, 2002). This number will have an overwhelming impact on public health. There will be an increased burden on health budget as increased financing of the older adults will be required leaving behind other areas with minimal amounts allocated to them.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Public policy goals concerning the aging society must have a balance of providing adequate services and transfers while ensuring favorable economic and social well-being for nonelderly population (Knickman & Snell, 2002). Another policy is the integration of health in local climate response. Public health can be viewed as an element that portrays the urgency needed to adapt to climate change and reduction of greenhouse effects (Sheehan et al., 2017). Since climate change has recently been a major harm to the population’s health, incorporating health in climate response will help improve public health. An integrated health and climate response policy will ensure that health concerns are prioritized when addressing matters related to climate.
A summary of Strengths Finder results from Module 2
The assessment is aimed at measuring the existing patterns related to my thinking, feeling, and behaving (Gallupstrengthscenter 2017). This ultimately helps in discovering my talents. It involved several domains which include strategic thinking, executing, influencing and relationship building. They are aimed at describing how I use my abilities to work. This is about using information, making things happen, influencing others as well as building relationships.Public Health And Health Education Essay
From the assessment, I was able to get a summary of results based on the various themes. Under the strategic thinking domain themes, I can look for reasons and causes as well as think about situations, analyze the past to understand the present, inspired by the future and I inspire others with their visions, fascinated by ideas and am always determined to know more. Similarly, I am introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions, desire to learn and continuously improve, and create alternative ways to proceed.Public Health And Health Education Essay
As far as the executing domain themes, is concerned, I have a great deal of stamina, I am hardworking and I can figure out how resources can be utilized for optimal productivity. I have a purpose defined by values, aware of the need to treat people equally, anticipate obstacles, have focus, take responsibility, and can figure out whatever is wrong and resolving
Based on the influencing domain themes, I can turn thoughts into action and make things happen, controls situations come up with decisions and am good at conversations and presentation. I also strive to win, seek to transform strong into superb, I possess an inner direction that acts as a source of confidence in viewing decisions as right, I am independent with the desire to be recognized in most cases.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Under the relationship building domain themes, I believe in links between all core issues, recognize and build others potential, sensing other people feelings, and looks for consensus. I also accept others, figure out how diverse groups can productively work together, have enthusiasm, enjoy being close to others, and work with others towards goal achievement to get satisfaction.
After reviewing all the themes under the four domains I found out that I had excellent strengths that I can build on and utilize them to support and promote public health and health education. This would be of great importance for the society since promoting health translates into a safe environment.Public Health And Health Education Essay
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Using personal strengths to support and promote the field of public health or health education
The knowledge about one’s strengths from each domain in the can be beneficial to an individual. It gives insight into how one can use his or her capabilities/talents to bring about change in the immediate environment. Personally, I can use my strengths to support and promote the public health and education on health. This is possible through the use such strengths in different areas of application that help explain the status and future of public health and health education.
Based on public health, I will use all the relevant strengths to identify the best practices through the assessment of the history. This information will help in coming up with recommendations that the can be implemented to improve public health. Similarly, in the explanation of certain phenomena, it is essential to come up with a cause-effect explanation. I will use my strengths to identify what brings particular threats to the public health as well as coming up with an account of the effects of such concerns.
On the side of health education, I will use my strengths to collaborate with others and be able to create an environment of learning. This will be vital in coming up with new insights on public health and how the impending challenges can be better addressed through an innovative culture and strong leadership. Also, I will use the enthusiasm and personal direction support and promote programs that are aimed at increasing public health awareness and creation of healthier communities.Public Health And Health Education Essay
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Conclusion
Public health is a fundamental duty of all agencies including federal, state and local governments. It is therefore essential to ensure that all possible efforts are made to better public health and health education. The role of public health has to profoundly focus on improving the living conditions to ensure a healthier community. Furthermore, health professionals have to go beyond practice and build communities of practice. This helps them learn from each other and come up with new knowledge of addressing the menace in public health and health education. Scholars have to use their strengths to support and promote public health and health education. Therefore, it is not a matter of choice, but the role of public health and health professional have to expand and focus more creating a healthier community rather than offering care.Public Health And Health Education Essay
This written rationale will identify and explain the necessity for the promotion of public health and physical activity. It will demonstrate an understanding of the role, function and settings of public health and physical activity promotion by national, regional and local agencies. It will also analyse and evaluate the health related models and approaches to public health and physical activity promotion.
What is Health?
There are many definitions for Health. Health means different things to different people, if someone doesn’t drink and smoke then they believe that they are healthy, or if they eat a good balanced diet for example. The main most known definition of health is from the World Health Organization. World Health Organisation states:Public Health And Health Education Essay
‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a dynamic condition resulting from a body’s constant adjustment and adaptation in response to stresses and changes in the environment for maintaining an inner equilibrium called homeostasis.’
World Health Organisation (2003)
This definition however has not been amended since 1948.
What is Health Promotion?
Health promotion involves doing things to prevent disease and to improve individual and communities health. Health promotion offers solutions to many of the health problems facing society such as obesity, lack of exercise and smoking though developing skills and knowledge, community action, supportive environments, healthy public policy and health services. Health promotion helps individuals or communities to increase control over and improve their health and wellbeing. Curtin University (2012) states that ‘with a significant proportion of ill-health related to choices about nutrition, exercise, the use of legal and illegal substances, interpersonal relationships and other social behaviours, health promotion can help us make choices that support well-being.’Public Health And Health Education Essay
The features of health promotion are that it is based on a holistic view of health; it uses participatory approaches it focuses on the determinants and addressing of health not just health problems and conditions. These include the social, behavioural, environmental and economic conditions that are the root cause of poor health, wellbeing and illness such as education, income, employment, working conditions, social status. Health promotion builds on existing strengths and assets and it uses multiple, complementary strategies to promote health for the individual, community and population level.
Why is health promotion needed?
There are fears that the recent generation and their children’s generation will age less successfully than the current older one – no surprise given that, although rates of cigarette smoking are falling, more people are drinking heavily, only a minority of adults exercise often enough to maintain good health and obesity rates have greatly increased over the last 20 years.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Obesity is a main health issue which can lead to other health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, joint pain, Nursing Times (2009) states that ‘these health issues can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle measures. A health promotion package would enable adults of all ages to lead happier and healthier lives.’Public Health And Health Education Essay
Around two-thirds of the England population are overweight or obese. Obesity has grown by almost 400% in the last 25 years and on present trends will soon surpass smoking as the greatest cause of premature loss of life. (NHS Dudley, 2012)
Obesity is associated with many health problems including coronary heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, osteoarthritis, back pain and psychological damage. The strong association between obesity and cancer has only recently come to light. (Dodds, 2009)Public Health And Health Education Essay
Dodds (2009) estimates the economic costs of obesity conservatively at £3.3-3.7 billion per year and of obesity plus overweight at £6.6-7.4 billion.
Health promotion for obesity is especially important because it can help lower the risks of many other health conditions which then cuts down the economic costs in the future by educating people about the correct food and exercise and also behaviour change techniques.
Why do we need to Promote Mental Health?
Mental health promotion does remain the most underdeveloped area of health promotion even though there is an increasing recognition that ‘there is no health without mental health’ Christodoul (2009).Public Health And Health Education Essay
Positive mental health involves self-esteem, being able to solve problems and the ability to adapt to stress. The need for positive mental health promotion is beneficial and relevant for everyone. It is important to stress to policy makers and professionals to understand that mental health and mental wellbeing are issues of everyday life. Therefore positive mental health demands the co-ordinated action by all concerned; through the media, the government, local authorities, industry, voluntary organisation and through health and social and economic sectors.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Most of the time when people think of mental health they look at it in a negative way, however it could be argued that this is not the case.
‘Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.’Public Health And Health Education Essay
(Mental Health Ireland 2013)
Mental Health is about how people feel about themselves, how they feel about others and how they are able to meet the demands of life.
Mental health promotion is important because mental health contributes to all aspects of human life, it has important, less important and essential values for the individual, society and culture. Mental health has a shared relationship with the wellbeing and productivity of a society and its members. Mental health is essential for the wellbeing and functioning of all individuals.
Mental health is essential for the well-being and functioning of individuals.
Good mental health is an important resource for individuals, families, communities, and nations.
Mental health, as an indivisible part of general health, contributes to the functions of society, and has an effect on overall productivity.
Mental health concerns everyone as it is generated in our everyday lives in homes, schools, workplaces, and in leisure activities.
Positive mental health contributes to the social, human, and economic capital of every society.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Spirituality it can make a significant contribution to mental health promotion and mental health influences spiritual life.
(World Health Organization, p.21 2004)
Mental health can be regarded as an individual resource, which contributes to a person’s quality of life; an aspect of good mental health is the capacity for mutually satisfying and enduring relationships.
The role of Health Promotion.
Health Promotion staff work at numerous different levels from working with groups and communities, face to face contact with individuals, to more strategic work such as policy development. Working as a health promotion specialist is much more than persuading and advising individuals to make lifestyle changes, it also includes the following:Public Health And Health Education Essay
Project management- this involves managing particular health promotion projects to make sure they are delivered to a high standard, effective and that they are ethical.
Personal development – developing personal, emotional and social skills and abilities of everyone to give them the opportunity to maximise their health and build a health promoting attitude to use for those around them.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Community development – encouraging and developing communities to become healthier such as neighbourhoods, cultural communities and communities of interest.
Organisational development – encouraging organisations to become more health promoting such as schools, work places and hospitals.
Partnership development – building partnerships with key people, communities and organisations who can influence health promotion and to help partnerships to be better educated to promote health.
Health information – developing ways of providing the correct information about people’s health, what social and behavioural factors can affect their health and what can be done to improve their health.
Strategy Development – developing a planned approach to improving health and to make sure that local, regional and national polices that could affect the public’s health do so in a health promoting way.
(NHS careers, 2012)
Health promotion specialists also work in a range of different settings and locations such as sport and fitness centres, communities, health centres, local authority buildings, hospitals, offices and schools.Public Health And Health Education Essay
National Health Promotion
National health promotion includes many different programmes and schemes backed by the government the NHS, the Department of Health and some charities. Some are list below:
Change 4 life – this involves eat well, move more, live longer government campaign. This involves a website.
NHS Life Check- this is a free online service from the NHS that asks people a series of questions about their lifestyle and gives them personalised results.
Take on life, one step at a time – this is a website from Healthier Scotland with information about healthy eating and physical activity.Public Health And Health Education Essay
NHS Health – the UKs health improvement agency for improving the health of the nation.
Health at Work Programme from the British Heart Foundation – this involves promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.
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Healthcare Promotions – this is a free service for healthcare professionals which is used to help raise awareness across the UK on a range of health issues.
Alcohol Focus UK – this is a UK national charity that works towards reducing the harm caused by alcohol.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Down Your Drink – this is a website made to help people work out wether they are drinking too much and if so what they can do about it.
Drink Aware – this aims to promote responsible drinking and find innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm.
Fastforward – Fast Forward is a national voluntary organisation that was created to give young people the skills, education and support to live healthier lives.
Hope UK – Works with communities throughout the UK to prevent drug and alcohol-related harm to children and young people.
Life Education Centres – the aims of Life Education Centres are to help children make healthy choices by providing services appropriate to the needs of primary school children.
Frank – this is a national drug information website providing confidential advice about taking drugs.Public Health And Health Education Essay
(Patient.co.uk 2012)
Regional Health Promotion – Derbyshire
Derbyshire health promotion service offers a range of free health and well-being programs, advice and support to the local community and businesses of Derbyshire. All programs are run and delivered by health specialists. Some of the health promotion programs are listed below:
Waist Wise – this is a weight management program with separate courses for men and women
Derbyshire Stop Smoking Service – this is a specialist support program to help people quit smoking.
Health Referral Program – this is an exercise and activity scheme for individuals who want to improve their health by becoming more active.
Children and Young People’s Health Promotion Program – this is a local program to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Derbyshire.
Working Well – this involves a range of programs to help local businesses to improve the health, well-being and safety of their workforce and work place.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Living with Long-term Conditions Program- this is a self-management program to help people with long-term conditions to improve their health and well-being.
Marketing and Resource Service – this is a range of health and well-being marketing resources for use in the community and education projects
(Derbyshire Community Health Service, 2012)
It is essential that Derbyshire are working on tackling obesity by using health promotion as National Obesity Surgery Centre (2010) states that ‘Obesity has hit an all time high in Derbyshire with 25% of people now in this category.’
Health officials said this cost the NHS £7m more in 2009 than in 2008. As obesity increases millions more will be spent each year. In 2008 89 people in Derbyshire had weight loss surgery such as gastric banding. Female patients outnumbered males, with 75 women receiving gastric bands compared to 14 men. Overall there were only slightly more obese women than men. 72,000 women compared to 70,000 men. The figures have been revealed after statistics showed that eight times more people in England have been admitted to hospital due to obesity than ten years ago.Public Health And Health Education Essay
(National Obesity Surgery Centre 2010)
This is just another set of statistics highlighting the problem of obesity is on the increase and is in desperate need of tackling. This is why Health Promotion is crucial in areas of the world.
Local Health Promotion – Chesterfield
The health of the community in Chesterfield in general is wore than the England average, there are health issues within Chesterfield which are by gender, level of deprivation and ethnicity. Almost seven out of ten local people describe their health as good/very good, which is said to be low compared with others. Chesterfield also has a high rate of teenage pregnancies and alcohol related admissions to hospital. More people in Chesterfield are admitted to hospital for alcohol related harm than anywhere else in Derbyshire and the rate is higher than the national average.Public Health And Health Education Essay
(Chesterfield Borough Council, 2009)
Chesterfield is currently focusing and providing opportunities for young people to take part in activities. Queen’s Park Sports Centre has a synthetic pitch and provides free use for supervised activities for 10 hours each week. There is a health programme called swim free which means under 16s can swim for free, also the new Healthy Living Centre at Staveley is now open. The Council also won funding to develop play facilities in the deprived area of Barrow Hill in Chesterfield. Chesterfield Borough Council (2012) reports that ‘Last year, the number of children taking part in sports development activity increased from 1,255 to 1,541.’ These activities of health promotion are decreasing the chances of obesity by providing physical activity activities which is crucial when trying to loose or maintain a correct body weight.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Strengths and Weaknesses of Health Promotion
Weaknesses
Issues relating to funding and lack of resources are a major problem when coming to health promotion.
Lack of staffing – funding issues
Losing out to direct care – health promotion being seen as not important so staff such as nurses will be dealing with health promotion on top of dealing with direct care of patients.
Lack of understanding of health promotion – Godden (2008) states that ‘staff and management can sometimes be identified as lacking in understanding of health promotion.’ Godden also found that a lack of skills and knowledge amongst staff as a weakness and several members of staff at the NHS suggested that there was an unjustified assumption that anyone can just do health promotion without appropriate training.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Some sectors do not understand or recognise health promotion and neither does the community.
Strengths
Cutting down cost for the economy by tackling health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer
Community togetherness getting together as groups in the community
Making new friends
Cut down levels of depression with health promotion based on physical activity – physical activity decreases the symptoms of depression. Physical activity releases endorphins, which may improve an individual’s mood, exercise the immune systems chemicals that increases depression, due to body temperature increasing during exercise this produces a calming effect. Exercise also increases confidence and helps distractions of negative thoughts. Exercising may offer more opportunities to socialize and offers people a healthy way to cope with depression.Public Health And Health Education Essay
Morin (2011) states that ’33 percent of adults do not engage in any form of leisure time physical activity. Increasing physical activity improves depression. This is why health promotion for exercise is beneficial for everyone and will cut down the cost on the NHS prescriptions of antidepressants’
Behavioural Modifications in Health Promotion
There many theories and models that are used in Health Promotion, however it depends what the focus of change of behaviour that is being worked out. For tackling obesity and to promote healthy eating the following theories may be found helpful.Public Health And Health Education Essay
The stages of change model would assess the readiness of the community to change
Learning theory, diffusion of innovations theory and communication theory would inform behavioural interventions to help people to make healthy food choices
Community development theory would help in enabling the community to address barriers to having a healthy diet (for example through setting up a food co-operative)
Policy theory would help with how to influence political processes (e.g. getting the council to set aside land for allotments).Public Health And Health Education Essay
The Health Belief Model can also play a good role in health promotion. This model predicts and explains the health behaviours people decide to undertake, the Health Belief Model supposes that a person believes they can avoid a negative condition such as obesity, that an individual will expect positive results if they take recommended actions to avoid negative health conditions and that people believe that they can successfully take recommended health steps towards leading a positive healthy life. This model will also assist towards cutting costs on the NHS for all types of health problems.Public Health And Health Education Essay
(Kansas State University College of Human Ecology, 2006)
Is Health Promotion a good thing?
Health Promotion is Prevention. Health Promotion is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people, from small communities to entire countries.
Yes, Health Promotion is a good thing because it saves money and improves peoples quality of Life. If a community is healthy then it is spending less money on health care; meaning better economic productivity and improved quality of life for everybody. Health Promotion doesn’t only help the adult population but it also helps children thrive. If a child is healthy then it will grow up to be a healthy adult, a healthy child attends school more often and performs better as a whole meaning they will be educated on health and fitness and hopefully carry it on through to their children too.Public Health And Health Education Essay