Principles of Health Education - Mnemonic / Community Health Nursing.

Introduction Health education is an essential tool and integral part of Community health. It bridge the gap between health knowledge and practices among the community people. PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EDUCATION Mnemonic 1 and 2 1. Motivation 2. Interest 3. Learning by doing 4. Known to unknown 5. Feedback 6. Leaders 7. Reinforcement 8. Good human relations 9. Setting an example 10. Comprehension 11. Soil, seed, sower. 12. Participation 13. Credibility 1. Motivation • The fundamental desire for learning in an individual. • Primary motives - inborn desires • Secondary motives - results of outside force. Health education can be facilitated by the motivation, provided to achieve individual goals. 2. Interest Health educator should identify the “felt needs” of the people and then prepare a program that they can actively participate in to make it If the health education topic is of interest to the people, they will listen to it. So, all health education topic must related to health needs of people. 3. Learning by doing If the learning process is accompanied by doing new things, it is better instilled in the minds of people. Thus, Learning process should be accomplished by doing. • Chinese proverb “ IF I HEAR, I FORGET, IF ISEE, I REMEMBER, IF I DO, I KNOW.” 4. Known to unknown Before the start of any health education program, the health educator should find out how much the people already know and then give them the new knowledge. Thus, health education specific to general, simple to complicated, known to unknown. 5. Feedback For any program to be successful it is necessary to collect feedback to find out if any modifications are needed to make the program more effective Key concept of system approach. Modification of elements. 6. Leaders Community leaders can be used to reach the people of the community and thus penetrate the community through local leaders Leaders can also be used to educate the people as they will have a rapport and will be familiar with the people of their community. E.g. Head of the village, headmasters, Ward members, local political leaders etc. 7. Reinforcement Reinforcement “booster dose in health education.” This is the principle that refers to the repetition needed in health education It is not possible for the people to learn new things in a short period of time Thus, repetition at regular intervals, helps people to understand new ideas or practice better 8. Good human relations The health educator should have a kind and sympathetic attitude towards the people and should always be helpful to them in clarifying doubts or repeating what is not understood 9. Setting an example The health educator should follow what he preaches. He should set an example to others to follow. 10. Comprehension Comprehension means level of understanding of the people who receive the health education. Health educator should first determine the level of understanding, education & literacy of the audience and act accordingly. • Never use new or strange words and Moreover, avoid technical or medical terms. 11. Soil, Seed and Sower. Soil is the receiver, audience, people or community. • Seed is health information , truthful facts. • Sower is the person giving the information (health educator) or transmitting media. 12. Participation Participation is the keyword in health education. Health educator should encourage people to participate in the health education program, because active learning is better than passive learning. Once the people are given a chance to take part in the program it leads to their acceptance of the program. • Methods like group discussion, panel discussions etc. to be followed as it provide opportunities for people’s participation. 13. Credibility. Credibility is the degree to which the message is perceived as trustworthy by the receiver, audience or community. • The content or information should be scientifically proven, based on facts and should be compatible with local culture and goals.