Health Education: Empowering Communities for Better Wellbeing Sample

Introduction : Health Education and Promoting Wellbeing

At UNESCO, health education and well-being have been referred to as the resilient, health-promoting education system that integrates the health and well-being of every individual as a fundamental part of the daily mission (Unesco.org, 2023). This report is based on the topic “Health Education and Promoting Well-Being”. This report will include two tasks, The first task will highlight different approaches related to health education and methods that are used to identify the health inequalities within society and community. The second task will include a health education campaign, and for this proposed campaign, the reduction of obesity and the implementation of regular exercise within the daily routine of children in the UK will be chosen as the topic of health education. 

Task 1: Report

Approaches to health education and the methods that are used to identify health inequalities.

Health education includes a diverse range of theoretical concepts and strategies that aim to promote health and well-being within society, and the community, prevent diseases, and enhance well-being among individuals (World Health Organization, 2012). Health education plays a dual roles like driving opportunities for individuals to be aware and concerned about their well-being and health, and it acts as a tool to reduce inequality. In this report, the focus will be given to the evaluation of the concept of health and illness by analyzing the factors related to health and well-being and approaches to health promotion. 

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Discussion 

Concept of health and ill health 

According to the World Health Organisation (who.int, 2022), health can be defined as the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than the mere absence of infirmities or diseases. Therefore, health can be defined as the dynamic equilibrium between an individual and his surroundings. On the other hand, illness can be defined as the subjective experiences by an individual related to feeling unwell, and it encompasses discomforts, distress, and symptoms that an individual may perceive (Amzat & Razum, 2014). According to (who.int, 2022) illness can be defined as the sociocultural dimension within which an individual experiences infirmities, therefore disease or illness can be referred to as the maladjustment of human organism to the environment. 

Compare and contrast the models of health

Two widely used health models are: 

Biomedical model of health- according to this model of health, diseases or infirmities can be explained through the disturbance in physiological processes, which are due to injuries, bacterial or microbial infections, biomedical imbalance, genetic abnormalities, and/or physiological dysfunctions (Longino, 2020). This model states that disease is an affliction of an individual’s physical health and body, and medical conditions can be explained as some physiological abnormalities (Model, 2021). For example, in a biomedical model, a person living with type 2 diabetes would primarily be treated with insulin injection and clinical intervention that can help him to keep the blood sugar level under control or at the base level. As per this model, to ensure the health and well-being of an individual the primary focus will be given to managing the physiological aspect of the disease (Behera et al., 2022). 

(Figure 1: Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Model of Heath)

(Source: Hardie, 2021)

Biopsychosocial model- According to this model, health and illness are not related only to biological factors, but it also related to social and psychological factors (Hardie, 2021). Additionally, as per this model of health, there is a connection between social, biological, and psychological scenarios, in terms of influencing the health and well-being of individuals. According to the Biopsychosocial model, treatment like medical intervention, lifestyle modification, and social support are important to promote health and well-being among people (Kusnanto et al., 2018). For example, according to the biopsychosocial model, a person with acute pain will receive pain medication, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy to address the psychological aspect of depression and stress arise from the pain. Additionally, social support and lifestyle modification can also help that individual manage the pain and gain health and well-being effectively (Dantas et al., 2020). 

Factors that affect the health and well-being

There are numerous factors that can affect the health and well-being of an individual. These factors are: 

Biological factors: these include genetics, age, sex, and other biological attributes that can influence the health and well-being of an individual. Genetic factors refer to the transfer of biological characteristics from parent to child and cause genetic predisposition towards the disease or illness (Karunamuni et al., 2021). 

Lifestyle factors: these include the behavior and habits that can affect health, like physical activities, smoking habits, consumption of alcohol, diet, and so on. Behavior can be defined as the way an individual interacts with the environment, and these factors result from the interaction of physical-ecological, psychological, spiritual, and sociocultural aspects (Sharma and Gupta, 2021). For example, if an individual adopts physical exercise and consumes of balanced meal on a regular basis, he might be free from the risk of obesity, or diabetes, or any cardiovascular disorders for the long term.

Environmental factors: these refer to the housing condition, socio-economic status of an individual, air and water quality of surroundings, workplace environment, and so on (Woolf and Aron, 2013). for example, an individual who is living in an unsafe environment with low socio-economic status, is more vulnerable to develop respiratory problems as well as other disorders, risk of injuries.

Psychological factors: it include mental health, stress levels, coping mechanisms, and resilience. For example, managing stress by mindfulness training and medication can help an individual to live a healthy lifestyle, with a good immunity system (Dantas et al., 2020). Good coping mechanisms, mental health, and well-being can help an individual to develop resilience and better health outcomes. 

The connection between diet, exercise, and health 

The connection between exercise, diet, and health is important when it comes to maintaining overall health and well-being. According to Moradell et al., (2023) , the interaction between diet and exercise has had a significant impact on overall health outcomes, as it includes the reduction of risk related to obesity, weight gain, and, cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, proper diet and regular exercise can also improve mental health and well-being as well as it can help to maintain physical functioning, proper mobility, and independence at older age. However, achieving a healthy diet and adopting the habit of regular exercise is challenging (Ahmed, 2023). Subsequently, it can be stated that appropriate dietary patterns associated with the consumption of low carbohydrate and fat-rich food can reduce the risk of heart diseases, for example, a well-established Mediterranean diet can help to keep the heart healthy due to low levels of unsaturated fat in food (Man et al., 2020). On the other hand, numerous studies show that exercise can help to lower the risk of obesity, blood pressure level, diabetic rate, and risk of heart disease (Tian and Meng, 2019). Exercise can decrease blood pressure, Low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol levels in the blood and can increase the size, and strength of the heart by improving cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, it can be stated that there is a strong connection between diet, exercise, and health- as proper diet and regular exercise can help any individual to stay healthy for a long period. 

Role of media in influencing the attitude to health

As per the World Health Organisation, the role of media in influencing the attitude to health is extensive and cannot be overestimated (World Health Organization, 2022). Media outlets like ration, Television, orienting media, and online platforms like Facebook, and Instagram can offer millions of information to make people aware and concerned about the way to improve health and well-being. News stories and campaigns can also have a huge impact on people regarding making decisions for their health and well-being. According to Moreno and Whitehill, (2014), exposure to the media, specifically among the youth can affect their health behaviors such as consumption of alcohol, substance misuse, smoking habits, sexual activities, and eating habits. Picard (2020) has mentioned that media can shape public opinion and influence policy-making. By highlighting the most common health issues like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders, the media can draw the attention of people and pressure the government and decision-makers to take action, which in turn can impact health behaviors within the population and community. For example, media coverage of obesity among children has drawn mass concerns and policy initiatives in the UK by aiming to promote the intervention of a healthier diet and physical activities at school. However, Funmi Adebesin et al., (2023) has argued that while media play a positive role in promoting health and changing health behavior effectively, it can also contribute to misinformation and disinformation. For example, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation spread across social media sites fueled vaccine hesitancy and threatened the efforts of the government to restrict the rapid spread of the pandemic. 

Explanation of the terms:

Health Education

Health education refers to the process of imparting information, skills, and knowledge to the community and individuals to encourage every individual within a society to adopt positive health behavior and prevent disease symptoms (Sharma, 2021). Health education covers a wide range of subjects like physical activities, disease prevention, sexual health, mental health, and well-being. 

Health protection

Health protection can be defined as a measure of safeguarding the population or individuals from the threat of disease, environmental hazards, and other health-related risks. In health protection, the action includes the immunization program, food safety regulation, workplace safety standards, emergency preparedness efforts, and sanitation initiatives (Rosa and Tafuri, 2021). Implementation of policies, and practices that promote a safe environment, and reduction of health risks, and health protection measures can contribute to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the people.

Disease Prevention 

Disease prevention refers to the action needed to reduce the occurrence, progression, and impact of diseases on the health and well-being of people. It includes a range of interventions, which aim to address the risk factors, promote healthy behaviors, and provide early detection and treatment of the diseases (World Health Organization, 2012). Disease prevention strategies are three types: primary prevention which focuses on preventing diseases from occurring, secondary prevention refers to the detection and treatment of the disease at early stages to prevent the onset of complications, and tertiary prevention regrets to manage the mitigate the consequences of the diseases on improve quality of health and well-being.

Approach to health promotion

Health promotion can be defined as a process that can make people capable of improving their overall health and well-being (Sibeudu, 2022). Health Promotion includes various tools like campaigns, brochures, eHealth campaigns, involvement of the stakeholders, consensus meetings, and community ownership, policy development, and panel discussions with which the government or NGOs and other respective agencies can influence the people to maintain health and well-being through an awareness campaign (Haldane et al., 2019). The key approach of health promotion includes the prevention of illness, promoting behavioral changes among the people and young population, making people aware through the educational campaign, empowerment, social changes, and encouragement to the people to avail basic healthcare support from GPs and healthcare organisations. The aim or purpose of any health promotional approach is to prevent disease, ensure informed health choices, help people acquire skills and knowledge to control health, spread disease, maintain well-being, and change policies and interventions to facilitate healthy choices (Nutbeam and Muscat, 2021). 

Two models of behavior change that have been used in a recent national health education campaign

Two models of behavior change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns are:

1. Theory of Reasoned Action or TRA- this theory states that the health behavior of any individual is influenced by their attitudes and subjective norms. This theory highlights the term “behavior intent” which refers to the intention of an individual to carry out a behavior and this depends on their subjective norms and attitudes (LaCaille, 2020). In healthcare campaigns, like “Smoke-Free”, leveraging this model can encourage the population to adopt positive health behaviors. 

(Figure 2: Theory of Reasoned Action)

(Source: LaCaille, 2020)

1. Stage of Change Model- the stage of change model comprises with five stages, like Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and maintenance. Each stage refers to the level of willingness to change individuals’ behavioral to ensure health and well-being (Hagger et al., 2020). In healthcare and educational campaigns, this model facilitates healthcare practitioners and decision-makers to encourage people to adopt a healthy gait such as quitting the consumption of nicotine, and substance use. 

Evaluation of the effectiveness of different models of behavior change in relation to health and well-being

The Theory of Reasoned Action emphasizes the importance of attitudes and subjective norms to predict the behavioral intentions of people (LaCaille, 2020). This model suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in the behavior if they have positive attitudes toward it. When this model offers insights into the cognitive processes to underscore the behavioral changes, it also overlooks the role of environmental factors and self-efficacy (Glanz, 2022). On the other hand, the Stage of Change Model or also known as the Transtheoretical Model emphaises that change in health behavior is a process that occurs over time, and it involves distinct stages like precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance (Sharma, 2021). This model also acknowledges the dynamic nature of the health behavior change and stresses the significance of tailoring the intervention to the readiness of individuals to adopt positive changes in health and well-being. However, Shaffer, (2020) has argued that this model can increase the complexity of health promotional campaigns when it aims to encourage people to adopt behavioral changes and this model also lacks specificity in guiding the intervention. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, it can be stated that health education serves as an important factor in promoting positive health behavior within the community by addressing health inequalities. By addressing the health models, like biomedical and biopsychosocial models, and factors that influence health and well-being, effective health promotion strategies can be developed with which the individual can be encouraged to change the health behavioral approaches. In this report, it has been discussed that the connection between diet, exercise, and health underscores the significance of a holistic approach to health and well-being. Moreover, in this report, highlight has been given on the roles played by the media to share the attitudes of people towards health and wellness. Therefore, as a conclusion, it can be stated that health education is an important approach to promote health, and well-being among individuals, society, and the wider community. 

References 

• Ahmed, D.R. (2023). Building Healthy Habits: Making Exercise a Lifestyle. [online] continentalhospitals.com. Available at: https://continentalhospitals.com/blog/building-healthy-habits-making-exercise-a-lifestyle/ [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].
• Amzat, J. and Razum, O. (2014). Health, Disease, and Illness as Conceptual Tools. Medical Sociology in Africa, [online] pp.21–37. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03986-2_2.
• Behera, B.K., Prasad, R. and Shyambhavee (2022). Primary health-care goal and principles. Healthcare Strategies and Planning for Social Inclusion and Development, [online] 1(1), pp.221–239. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-90446-9.00008-3.
• Dantas, D.D.S., Correa, A.P., Buchalla, C.M., Castro, S.S.D. and Castaneda, L., (2020). Biopsychosocial model in health care: reflections in the production of functioning and disability data. Fisioterapia em Movimento, 33. https://www.scielo.br/j/fm/a/DmQ3k8VYSqnqvQtYGQx4sQQ/citation/?lang=en
• Funmi Adebesin, Smuts, H., Tendani Mawela, Maramba, G. and Marié Hattingh (2023). Role of Social Media in Health Misinformation and Disinformation during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Bibliometric Analysis (Preprint). JMIR infodemiology, 3, pp.e48620–e48620. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/48620.
• Glanz, K. (2022). Social and Behavioral Theories. [online] https://obssr.od.nih.gov/sites/obssr/files/Social-and-Behavioral-Theories.pdf. Available at: https://obssr.od.nih.gov/sites/obssr/files/Social-and-Behavioral-Theories.pdf.
• Hagger, M.S., Cameron, L.D., Hamilton, K., Hankonen, N. and Lintunen, T. eds., (2020). The handbook of behavior change. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/handbook-of-behavior-change/BD76D0E53DB1BC2EE8C53C1603D45E6A
• Haldane, V., Chuah, F.L.H., Srivastava, A., Singh, S.R., Koh, G.C.H., Seng, C.K. and Legido-Quigley, H. (2019). Community participation in health services development, implementation, and evaluation: A systematic review of empowerment, health, community, and process outcomes. PLOS ONE, [online] 14(5). doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216112.
• Hardie, M. (2021). Three Aspects of Health and Healing: The Biopsychosocial Model in Medicine. [online] Department of Surgery. Available at: https://surgery.wustl.edu/three-aspects-of-health-and-healing-the-biopsychosocial-model/

Task 2: Health Education Campaign 

Introduction: Health Education Topic for Campaign: Implement physical activities and consumption of healthy meals among school children to reduce the onset of Obesity

Obesity among children is now becoming a major social and health concern across the world. In the UK the prevalence rate of obesity in children ae 9.2% in 2022/23, a slight decrease from 2021/22 (10.1%) (rcpch.ac.uk, 2023). The prevalence rate of obesity among the children of Year 6 (10-11 years) in 2021/22 was 23.4%, which has also decreased to 2022/23 by 22.7% (rcpch.ac.uk, 2023). Nowadays, two out of every five children are living with obesity and overweight, and are subsequently becoming vulnerable to the risk of chronic illness, cardiovascular disorders, mental health issues, and even short life spans. To have these children at such a disadvantage before even starting secondary school can be considered a national disgrace.

(Figure 1: BMI Category among the children in Year 6, in UK)

(Source: Baker, 2023)

Root Cause of obesity among children:

(Figure 2: Obesity Statistics)

(Source: Baker, 2023)

Causes of obesity among children include unhealthy food choices, lack of physical activities, and eating habits within the family.

The risk of obesity among children:

The risk of obesity among children, specifically school-going children is multifaceted and it has severe implications for physical, emotional, and social well-being (Ma?lak et al., 2020). Some risks include:

1. Health problem- obesity increases the likelihood of developing various health issues like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disorders, asthma, and sleep apnea at a young age.
2. Physiological impact- children who are obese and going through overweight, often feel low self-esteem, depression, and social isolation due to humiliation by others regarding their body structure and overweight (Ma?lak et al., 2020). 

Academic performance- obesity, and lack of physical activities can lower the concentration level among children, and negatively impact cognitive function, memory power, and on learning abilities, which leads to poor academic performance (Devaux and Vuik, 2019). Social Stigma- obese or overweight children often face bullying, humiliation, teasing, and discrimination at school and surroundings, which leads them to develop feelings of loneliness, shame, and social exclusion.

(Figure 3: Impact of Obesity on school children)

(Source: Devaux and Vuik, 2019).

Campaign Details: 

Name: Let’s Do This

Target Audience: Year 6 Children (Age: 10-11 years), Parents, Teachers, Students (Age 10-11 years)

Region: City of Westminster, Borough in London

Statistics: In 2021/22, the prevalence rate of obesity among children in Year 6 in London was 25.8%. In 2022, Westminster experienced one of the largest rises in childhood obesity rates among children in Year 6 or who are finishing primary school (Trust for London, 2022). According to the data published by NHS Digital, the prevalence rate of obesity in 2021/22 among the school students in Year 6 at Westminster was 30.6%, including 9.3% children who are severely obese with a high BMI rate in comparison to the child’s sex, and age (NHS Digital, 2021).

Another important statistic about this borough as per NHS Digital is: 16.3% of the children in this borough and city of London are overweight, which means 46.5% of the youngsters in the City of Westminster are unhealthily overweight when they are just finishing their primary schools (Londonworld, 2022). 

Campaign Objectives:

1. To Support families to make healthier choices and to encourage their children to eat a healthy meal.
2. To increase the awareness for the parents, families, and school communities about the continuous increase of obesity and unhealthy weight gain tendency among children in Year 6 (age 10-11 years)
3. To encourage the children for adopting physical exercise and activities in their regular routine work, and consume healthy foods by avoiding junkies. 
4. To establish sustainable practices and resources for the school community, and families at the City of Westminster for promoting wellness curriculum activities within the school and the wider community
5. To reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in the City of Westminster by 20% by 2030.

Campaign Components: 

Physical Activity-10 minute Shake Up

The resources for the “10 minutes Shake Up” will encourage the children to get active. Here an initiative to team up with Disney has to be carried out to encourage the children to go to the park and stay active. By using some of the popular characters from Disney’s Frozen, Tangle, Barbie, Marvel’s The Avenger, Disney, and Pixar’s Lightyear- the children will be encouraged to be more active whilst having fun at parks and during the campaign.

Offer Regular PE Classes

The schools in the City of Westminster will be encouraged to implement regular Physical education classes, where the children will get 60 minutes to play kickballs, Hopscotch, Hula blockers, Skipping, Running, Basketballs, and so on. Along with offering the regular classes, it should be important for the school to make those classes fun, and encouraging, the school authorities will be encouraged to offer different choices of physical activities to the students. 

Educational Workshop 

Conduct interactive workshops in local schools by focusing on cooking classes, nutrition, and the benefits of regular physical activities. Here the School authorities will be encouraged to work in collaboration with nutritionists, fitness trainers, and healthcare professionals to deliver engaging sessions to children of different ages at school

School-based initiatives

The schools can implement a “Health Lunchbox” campaign to encourage the children to bring nutritional meals and snacks to school. Here the parents will also be encouraged to provide healthy meals to their children during school time. The healthy meals will include, fresh fruits, freshly boiled vegetables, low-fat and low carbohydrate-rich snacks, grilled chicken, walnuts, macadamia nuts, celery sticks, and so on.

Community Events

Organise family-friendly events such as sports days, healthy cooking classes, and fun activities with children. Here the events can be organized in collaboration with local healthcare organisations, school administrations, and local organisations, for sponsoring and promoting purposes. 

Parents Involvement

Offer workshops, seminars, and face-to-face interaction, to the families and parents residing in borough on the topics like meal planning for their children, grocery shopping on a budget, engaging children in 30-60-minute physical activities and exercises regularly, and encouraging children for healthy eating habits. Here the parents and families will be offered some resources and a support network so that they can access health consultation for their children at home.

Digital resources

Development of a dedicated website and social media channels with local councils, and local healthcare agencies in the City of Westminster to share information, resources, healthy recipe ideas, exercise routines, and success stories for the parents and school authorities related to reducing obesity among the school children. Here another initiative has to be taken, which is creating engaging content like infographics, videos, memes, blogs, and articles that will be posted on social media regularly to engage the children, schools, and parents in the journey to reduce obesity within children. 

Budget plan: 

Total Budget: 45,000 (£)

Effectiveness and impact of the campaign

The “Let’s Do This” health education campaign aims to reduce the obesity rate among school children in Year 6 (age 10-11 years) in the City of Westminster, London. To measure the effectiveness and impact of the campaign a pilot survey can be carried out among the residents of the borough, and schools located in the City of Westminster, London, the key indicators of the success will be: 

1. Change in rate of obesity among school children
2. Increased rate of participation in physical activities at school 
3. Implementation of physical education classes and physical activity-related curriculum at the school level
4. Improvement in nutritional habits among the children 
5. Rate of awareness among parents and educators about weight gain and obesity for their children 

As a whole, this campaign can help both the schools and parents to encourage their children to adopt healthy habits by using resources like eating toolkits, social media toolkits, assistance from healthcare providers, and local governments. 

Ethical issues:

The ethical issues which may arise from this campaign are:

1. Informed consent- when collecting data or conducting the campaign, consent should be asked from residents and school authorities in the City of Westminster borough, London.
2. Representation- it is important to represent and value the perspective of every individual in the campaign and avoid the stereotypes in resource materials to promote integrity, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity.
3. Transparency: it is important to ensure that transparent information about the campaign goal, methods, and risks to the stakeholders including parents, community members, and educators should be taken into consideration. 
4. Conflict of Interest- to avoid conflict of interest between different stakeholders, mutual understanding should be maintained to ensure the credibility and integrity of the campaign.