school of public health essay

school of public health essay

The Importance of Public Health Education

1. Introduction

This text investigates the importance of public health education and the role of medical knowledge in society. The research is focused on the manner in which public knowledge of medical issues has the potential to change the process of disease. The work is especially relevant today as public health education can be seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the prevalence of diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and smoking-related complications. This work takes a specific focus on the changes that occur with education of cardiovascular health. The hypothesis is that education of the general public on the risk factors of cardiovascular disease will lead to a decrease in the prevalence of the disease within the next ten years. This time frame is sufficient to demonstrate significant changes as the process of cardiovascular disease generally takes several decades. The demographics most affected by cardiovascular disease are the elderly and lower income people. These above mentioned populations make this work especially important as cost effective measures to help prevent this disease would have the most beneficial effects on these specific groups.

2. The Role of Public Health Education

Public Health Education is absolutely vital for preventative action to be taken. Without educating people about the options they have and what is at stake, no changes will be made. People may have the knowledge of what needs to be done, but without a full understanding of why and how, it is unlikely an effective change will occur. In regard to health, lessons learned are often practiced. Therefore, it needs to be realized that education is a long-term investment. Actions taken now to educate people to prevent certain health conditions or to promote a healthier way of living will serve to better the quality of life of present and future generations. The knowledge passed on through education will be put into practice and will inevitably lead to a much healthier society. This, in turn, will lighten the burden on healthcare systems and free up more time and resources for treating patients who are ill.

Public Health Education is the process of informing and empowering people around the world in taking action to improve their health. It is the science of educating people about the choices they have, the effect these choices have, and ways to improve current and future generations’ well-being. Education of this form is essential for the overall improvement of world health. This is because without it, people will not understand the options they have or how to follow through with them. They will always take health and the health of future generations for granted, which is a very costly attitude to have.

Education, in its general sense, is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a set of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. Education of any kind is a form of enlightenment. It is the most empowering tool a person can be equipped with, and no one can be truly liberated without it. It opens new windows of opportunity and fosters the decision-making process grounded in knowledge and not preconceived notions.

3. Benefits of Public Health Education

Utilizing public health education, this would have a positive impact on the overall health and well-being of people and we can expect to engage more communities in health promotion. This is important because it will enable people to take control over their own health, and the health of their families, by acquiring the information and resources they need to improve their quality of life. It would also prepare future generations of professionals in the new and better methods of health care with a knowledge and experience base in the development and use of innovative instructional strategies and technologies. Public and private organizations including government, hospitals, schools, and businesses would be able to restructure their environments to facilitate and support health. This is obviously important for the sake of primary prevention, for maintaining and improving the current health of the workforce, and for the health and productivity of future workers. The end result would be a dramatic reduction in the expense and lowered productivity which occurs when preventable and chronic health conditions affect the population. There are many economic benefits to improved population health, however this is a very complex and highly debated topic and an essay for another time.

4. Challenges in Public Health Education

Coming from a different perspective, many health professionals who are aware of the burgeoning costs of treating chronic diseases may seek to prevent such diseases occurring. It is here that the health profession, particularly those working in health education or medical social workers, will need to seek alliances with voluntary organizations and the state, learning how to mobilize the political and social forces needed to effect change.

Many of those working in the social sciences may view behavioral changes such as stopping smoking, taking more exercise, or changing dietary habits as ‘too little and too late’. They may see such changes simply as potentially beneficial to an individual’s health status rather than elemental in prevention. However, with smoking still the leading cause of premature death, and heart disease the next leading cause of death after cancer, there is much to be gained from persuading individuals to decrease their risk through health promotion activities. Public health education has a vital role to play here as it improves awareness of the determinants of health and enables individuals to translate knowledge into action, through making informed choices and exercising control over improving their own health.

In many countries, the difficulty in getting the public to change beliefs and behavioral patterns that are damaging to health has led to the initiation of educational programs. Oregon (USA) has been a pioneer in this area. It was the first state to develop a coordinated program for health education, at a time when the vast majority of health education in the US was aimed at health professionals rather than the public. Steps in this direction are still regarded as radical, with many health workers feeling ill at ease in their new role as ‘persuaders’ rather than prescribers of ‘what is good for you’.

5. Conclusion

Public health education is the cornerstone of a healthy society and a wise global investment. Our responses to health challenges are shaped largely by how these challenges are understood. Public health education provides individuals with a variety of information related to core health concerns, and the opportunities to learn from the experience of others to protect and improve community health. High quality health education, which includes comprehensive, coordinated approaches at national, state, and local levels, is essential in assisting societies to make improvements in health that are of great public health importance. This will require strategic investment in and reconfiguration of health education systems to generate a greater focus on health promotion, community health, and prevention, and the development of a workforce skilled in these domains. In attempting to achieve better health outcomes for all people, the aim of improving the lot of those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged should be a central consideration. In all of these efforts, a greater understanding of the ways in which enablers and resistors affect the adoption of healthy behaviors will be required. Public health education can contribute in many ways to positive health outcomes and we are indebted to an increasing number of professionals who have dedicated themselves to this endeavor.