Module 2 Policy and Education Discussion
For this assignment, Module 2 Policy and Education Discussion. Does government policy or health education provide better outcomes within a population? Provide an example to support your view. For instance, should fatty food be banned by policy or should the public be educated about healthy eating? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each perspective (policy vs. education). Is there room for both policy and education?
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Initial post: 300-350 words
Module 2 Policy and Education Discussion
Health education focuses on the health of a community and seeks to examine the health issues within a population and work with other key stakeholders in finding solutions to the concerns (Hahn and Truman, 2015). On the other hand, governments rely on policies to intervene and improve the efficiency and equity within a population. Most global, state, federal and local efforts to improve health emphasize on policy change to ensure that the health promotion approaches are more sustainable and impactful. However, health education offers better outcomes within a population compared to government policy.
Health education is the process of providing individuals with information about their health so that they can make informed decisions. It has shown to be effective in improving health outcomes within a population. Ideally, the basic health education such as emotional regulation, reasoning ability and interactional abilities are vital components of health (Hahn and Truman, 2015). Health education boosts the health of a population since it enhances individual sense of control and encourages for a healthy lifestyle. Government policies provide guidance rather than education which influences people’s behavior to maintain or improve their health. On the other, health education is a process that uses various techniques to teach people about ways to maintain and improve their health.
An individual’s unhealthy life may result from lack of basic knowledge, emotional capacities and ability to reason. Health education is important because it helps people to understand how their health can be affected by their lifestyle choices (Setyaningsih, Kunaedi, and Anoez, 2021). For instance, health policy on restriction on advertising of unhealthy food that causes obesity can be less effective in prevention and control of obesity compared to health education on obesity. Health education can help educate the population on health lifestyle choices that improve the general lifestyle. Greater access of health relation information helps in reinforcing health eating as well as dietary changes. It also helps people to understand the importance of preventive measures, such as early detection of disease.
Health education is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the health of a population. Considerably, health education can offer more accurate health knowledge and beliefs and thus facilitate better lifestyle choice rather than using the government policy as an intervention. Health education allows for voluntary changes in health behaviors through knowledge, awareness, skills, values, beliefs and attitudes while government policy focuses on the course of action that creates a starting point for change. Health education can help to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, and it can also help to improve the overall health of a population. Health education can be used to promote health and also be used to encourage people to make informed decisions about their health.
Health education is an important part of any public health initiative. It can help to raise awareness of health issues, and it can also help to change the behavior of a population (Hahn and Truman, 2015). Health education can be used to promote healthy eating habits, and it can also be used to encourage people to get regular exercise. Health education can also be used to encourage people to get vaccinated against diseases, such as influenza and polio. Health education is a vital tool in the fight against disease rather than using government policy. It can help to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, and it can also help to improve the quality of life for those who are already suffering from a chronic disease.
The effectiveness of government policy or health education depends on a number of factors, including the specific issue being addressed, the target population, and the resources available. In general, health education is most effective when it is evidence-based, tailored to the needs of the target population, and delivered by trained and trusted professionals. Health education can be effective in addressing health issues at the individual, interpersonal, and community level. Health education is often more effective when it is developed with input from stakeholders, including those who will be delivering the education. It is also important to consider the feasibility and sustainability of health education programs when determining their effectiveness.
Module 2 Policy and Education Discussion: References
Hahn, R. A., & Truman, B. I. (2015). Education improves public health and promotes health equity. International journal of health services, 45(4), 657-678.
Setyaningsih, I., Kunaedi, A., & Anoez, N. H. (2021). Education on the importance of health awareness. Community Empowerment, 6(11), 2048-2051.
