HISTORY OF HEALTH EDUCATION

Early History:

Trial and Error (lay-referral network) Medical lore passed down from

generation to generation Throughout history people have always

turned to some type of medicine man or physician for counsel

Ancient Cultures:

Good hygiene practices Paved streets, drains, sewer systems Code of Hammurabi Before science enabled us to determine

pathogenic causes of disease, spiritual explanations and leadership prevailed

Greeks:

Balance of physical, mental, and spiritual Hippocrates and the“atomic theory” (p.43)

Recorded observations between disease and geography, living conditions,climate, and diet

Romans:

Conquered the Greeks, but retained their medical knowledge

Exceptional builders of water and sewage systems

Attention to where they located towns and drainage

Advanced study of human anatomy and surgery

Middle Ages:

In order for people to be protected, they built fortresses around their property and animals

Overcrowding and sanitation Little emphasis on cleanliness in early

Christianity Disease was caused by sin or disobeying

God Time of great epidemics – bubonic plague

Renaissance:

Beginning of change Disease and plague still rampant Bloodletting popular “water casting” Barbers performed surgery and dentistry Hygiene of royalty

Renaissance cont.

Printing press invented so classical writing could be reproduced

OK to study the human body and anatomy advanced

Leeuwenhoek discovered the microscope John Graunt made advancement in epi “health boards” began to be developed in

communities

Age of Enlightenment:

Disease and plagues still raged Miasmas theory of disease took hold Mind and body were dependent on one

another Edward Jenner discovered vaccine

procedure for smallpox

1800’s (Bacterial period of public Health)

First half of the century diseases continued to rage

1842 Edwin Chadwick’s report 1849 John Snow and the Broad Street

pump Louis Pasteur – Germ theory of disease Joseph Lister – antiseptic method

Health Education & Promotion in the United States

Early colonial schools 1647 – “Old Deluder” law By mid 1800’s schools were tax

supported and attendance was required 1850 –first mandate to teach physiology

and hygiene in all public schools 1850 - Shattuck Report

1873 – APHA started 1874-1890 Women’s Crusade, later

called the Women’s Christian Temperance Union

1890’s - medical inspections began 1901- Thomas Wood

1914 - Demonstration projects began 1914 – WWI, 1st large scale measure of

health status of Americans 1920’s-1930’s many studies designed

to clarify the role of health education Great Depression, 1929-1941 WWII, 1939-1945

1950 – Health Education was emerging as integral part of elementary, secondary, & college curriculum

1970’s:The Era of Prevention

1971 – Coalition of National Health Organizations formed

1974 – LaLonde Report ** Health Field Concept **

1974 – CDC was established 1979 – Healthy People: The Surgeon

General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention was published

1980’s

Promoting Health & Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation

Initial Role Delineation study for Health Education

Examination of professional preparation programs and professional competencies

First Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) recognized

1990’s

National Health Education Standards published

Responsibilities/competencies for entry-level Health Educators published

SOC designation for Health Educators Competencies Update Project (CUP)

2000’s

Unified Code of Ethics Report of Joint Committee on Health

Education & Promotion Terminology Promotion of CHES Revised national HE competencies (3

levels) based on CUP Outcome-Based Education & Practice

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act

Signed into law March 2010

Expands health care coverage

Should help health education specialists Focus on prevention & preventive services Encourages & promotes worksite wellness Evidence-based community prevention & wellness programs Moves prevention toward the mainstream

Some components of the law are already in place

Major components required in 2014; not be fully implemented until 2019