Health Promotion and Education
Definition
Health promotion and education is the exchange of ideas and the dissemination of facts about
illness and disease. These ideas and facts serve to help people make decisions that affect their
health care and wellbeing. Local government programs, universities, hospitals, health clinics,
public and private associations and agencies, and the workplace are some of the places where
health promotion and education take place.
Description
When managed care emerged within the American health care system in the 1990s, the focus
shifted from treating illness to preventive medicine. Insurance companies began using words like
"wellness," and encouraged individuals to have routine check-ups, and workplaces began to offer
incentives to employees to quit bad habits, such as smoking. Because the emphasis turned to
prevention of illness, injury, and disease—rather than cure, or healing—there has been an influx
of health education programs aimed at giving people the information they need to be proactive
and responsible for their own well-being.
The Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health
Education (ASTDHPPHE) was created in 1946. The agency's mission is to promote health
education and provide a clearinghouse through which local health education leaders could
disseminate and gather information on methods and techniques for education programs. The
ASTDHPPHE offers programs in the prevention of chronic disease, injury, the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and
tobacco use. The emphasis turned to good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy schools and
workplaces.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion created "Healthy People 2010," a set of initiatives and health objectives for
Americans to focus on achieving optimum health. Ten high priority areas of focus were
identified: physical activity, obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior,
mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization, and access to health
care. Focus areas within each of those 10 priorities include community-based health education
programs, family planning, medical product safety, occupational safety and health, sexually
transmitted diseases, immunization and infectious diseases, and physical activity and fitness.
The goal of "Healthy People 2010" is not only to increase the quality of life for people and help
them to live longer, but also to eliminate the disparity in health care delivery. The life expectancy
of Americans has increased more than 30 years since 1900, with many older Americans living
well into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. Physical health, as well as mental health, has become more
and more important as many older adults want to "age in place," and not be forced to live in
long-term-care facilities. Older adults are concerned about their quality of life (QOL). It is with
good health education that all individuals can become empowered to take care of themselves.
Helping Americans maintain a good QOL is only part of the "Healthy People 2010" effort.
Disparities still exist among minority groups; minorities have not Page 1236 | Top of
Articleenjoyed the same health improvement progress as other Americans. Minority Americans
have higher rates of diabetes, HIV and AIDS, infant mortality, and heart disease. Life
expectancy for these populations is less than that of others, and minority groups living in poverty
often do not have access to adequate health care.
The Cooperative Actions for Health Program (CAHP) is a collaborative grant program that is
cosponsored by the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association
(AMA). Its purpose is to build, support, and strengthen state and local collaboration between
medical and public health professionals to improve the public's health. The program fosters
collaboration through grant funding, developing a communication network to share ideas and
coordinate policy-making efforts between the APHA and the AMA.
Viewpoints
There is some debate among health insurance companies and policy makers on whether health
education programs are a cost-effective means of preventing illness and disease. For example,
although a smoking cessation program offered in the workplace is believed to be an effective
means of helping employees quit smoking, not many of these programs are covered by company
insurance policies; the increase in premiums is often not very cost-effective. These health care
organizations are seeking research-based evidence that proves that health education and
promotion are effective and contribute to maintaining, rather than increasing, the cost of health
care.
With the explosion of the information age, however, and the ease with which individuals can
access information through computers and the World Wide Web, it has become much easier for
the heads of health education programs to reach consumers with information. Still, the concern
remains that Internet-based information does not reach poor minority consumers, as they are less
likely to own a computer or hold a professional job in which they have computer access. In
addition, some sites may not contain accurate health information; consumers and health
professionals alike need to make sure that online sources are credible.
Professional implications
The implications for health care professionals is huge, particularly for primary care physicians
(PCPs), who are on the front lines of health care for many Americans. Under most managed
care plans, an individual must first see a primary care doctor regarding almost any problem prior
to being referred to a specialist. Further, the referral must be written by the PCP. Primary care
physicians must be well-rounded in general health education and have knowledge in many
disciplines in physical and mental health. Physicians must be prepared to address a multitude of
questions regarding general health care.
Resources
BOOKS
Smeltzer, Jan, and James McKenzie. Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Health Promotion
Programs, 3rd ed. Allyn and Bacon, 2000.
PERIODICALS
Reviews of Health Promotion Education Online. Edited by Michel O'Neill.
http://www.rhpeo.org .
ORGANIZATIONS
Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education.
750 First St., NE, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20002. (202) 312-6460.
http://www.astdhpphe.org .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333.
http://www.cdc.gov .
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), Offices of Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion. 200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20201. (202) 401-6295.
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov .
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition)
Gourley, Meghan M. "Health Promotion and Education." The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and
Allied Health. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 1235-1236. Gale
Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
Document URL
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2584700397&v=2.1&u=nvk12&it=r&p=GV
RL&sw=w&asid=191e6408ff71324076ff4796701be945
Gale Document Number: GALE|CX2584700397
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American Public Health Association (APHA),
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Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health
Education (ASTDHPPHE),
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ASTDHPPHE (Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and
Public Health Education),
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CAHP (Cooperative Actions for Health Program),
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Cooperative Actions for Health Program (CAHP),
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Cost effectiveness
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Department of Health and Human Services
o Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
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Health education,
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Health insurance
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Health promotion,
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Healthy People 2010,
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Internet
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Life expectancy
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Managed care plans,
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Preventive care
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Primary care practitioners
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Quality of life
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