Oral Health EducationAnd

Health Promotion

Oral Health Education

INTRODUCTION

The process of imparting information about health in such a way that the recipient is motivated to use that information for the protection or advancement of his own, his family’s or his community’s health.

DEFINITION “Health education or literacy represents the

cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health.”

-WHO Health promotion Glossary, 1998

OBJECTIVESInforming people (Cognitive objective)

Motivating people (Affective objective)

Guiding into action (Behavioral objective)

FINAL GOAL

APPROACHES TO ACHIEVE HEALTH

1. Regulatory or legal approach

2. Administrative or service approach

3. Educational approach

4. Primary health care approach

MODELS OF HEALTH EDUCATION

Medical model

Motivation model

Social intervention model

PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EDUCATION

1. Credibility2. Interest3. Participation4. Motivation5. Comprehension6. Reinforcement

7. Learning by doing8. Known to unknown9. Setting an example10. Good human

relations11. Feedback12. Community leaders

STAGES IN THE ADOPTION OF NEW IDEAS AND PRACTICES

Unawareness

Awareness

Interest

Evaluation

Trial

HEALTH COMMUNICATION “a key strategy to inform the public

about health concerns and to maintain important health issues on the public agenda. The use of the mass and multimedia and other technological innovations to disseminate useful health information to the public, increases awareness of specific aspects of individual and collective health as well as importance of health in development.”

-WHO Health promotion Glossary, 1998

EDUCATIONAL AIDS USED IN HEALTH EDUCATION Main constituent of the armamentarium of

the health education process.

Auditory aids

Visual aids

A combination of audio-visual aids.

METHODS OF HEALTH EDUCATION

1. INDIVIDUAL APPROACH

2. GROUP APPROACH

3. MASS APPROACH

Health Promotion

DEFINITION “the process of enabling people to

increase control over, and to improve their health”.

-Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion,1st International Conference on

Health Promotion, Ottawa, 21-Nov-1986

Five priority action areas for health promotion:

1. Building healthy public policy

2. Creating supporting environments for health

3. Strengthening community action for health

4. Developing personal skills

5. Re-orienting health services

APPROACHES TO HEALTH PROMOTION

1. Preventive

2. Behavior change

3. Educational

4. Empowerment

5. Social change

Makes use of law made by govt. to protect health of public

Examples : Epidemic Disease Act Pollution Act Food Adulteration act Environmental Act

Drawbacks : Applicable only in limited situations May not alter the behavior of the

individual These laws are not democratic since they

interfere with an individual’s personal choices--------------------------------------------

It intends to provide all the heath facilities to the people with the hope that they will use it.

Drawbacks: It becomes a failure if the service is not based on the felt needs of the people.

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Most effective means for achievement of changes in the health practices and life-styles of the community.

Learning new “facts”, “unlearning” wrong information.

Results may be slow, but they are permanent and enduring.

Sufficient time should be allowed.

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Involves full participation and active involvement of the people.

Based on the principles of primary health care

Community participation

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a) Megaphonesb) Public addressing systems or microphonesc) Gramophone records and discsd) Tape recorderse) Radiosf) Sound amplifiers

Can also be used for entertainment and mass communication.

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a) Projected aids: Films or Cinemas Film Strips Slides Overhead Projectors /or Transparencies Bioscopes Video cassettes Silent films

b) Non-Projected aids: Blackboard Pictures, cartoons, photographs Charts, posters Flip charts, flashboards Flannel boards Printed materials Model, specimens

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Creates a better presentation…. They include:

Televisions Tape and slide combinations Video cassettes players

and recorders Motion pictures or cinemas Multimedia computers

Also include traditional media Folk dances Folk songs Puppet shows Dramas

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Advantages: Can be done in a dentist’s consultation room. Discussion, argument and persuasion of an

individual to change his behavior is possible. There is opportunity for the individual for

asking questions and clearing doubts.

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Disadvantages: Only a small no. can benefit Health education is given only to those who

come in contact with the dental surgeon or with public health personnel

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a. Chalk and talk (lectures)b. Symposiumc. Group Discussionsd. Panel discussionse. Workshopf. Conferences or seminarsg. Role playing/socio dramash. Demonstrations

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a) Televisionb) Radioc) Newspapers/pressd) Documentary filmse) Postersf) Health exhibitiong) Health magazinesh) Information bookletsi) Internet

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