Communication Process and Practices in Health Education Dr

Communication Process and Practices in Health Education Dr. Pracheth R. 1

Outline • Definition • Approaches • Models • Principles • Communication process • Barriers • Methods 2

Health education • Definition • Objectives: üHealth promoting lifestyle and practices üUse health services üRational decisions üIndividual and community participation 3

Regulatory approach • Any governmental intervention • Designed to alter human behaviour. 4

Service approach • Tried by the basic health services in 1960’s. • Providing services at their doorsteps. • Conclusion: Health service should be based on their felt needs. 5

Health education approach • People should have autonomy over their own lives. • Informed people -decisions to protect his own health. 6

Primary health care approach • Starting from the people • Full participation • Active involvement in planning and delivery of health services 7

Models: Medical • Recognition, treatment of disease, advances • Disseminate health information: scientific facts • Social, cultural, psychological factors ignored 8

Motivation model • Main force: translate information-action • Three stages: üAwareness: interest üMotivation: evaluation, decision-making üAction: adoption/acceptance • New idea: part of existing values 9

Social intervention model • Health problems complex • Social environment • Understanding: cultural, biological, physical, social environmental factors • Strategies: all models • Only one method: failure 10

Principles • Credibility • Interest • Participation • Motivation • Comprehension • Reinforcement 11

Continued…. . • Learning by doing • Known to Unknown • Setting an example • Good human relations • Feedback • Leaders 12

Communication process 13

Qualities of a good message • Information which communicator transmits to audience to receive, understand • Form of pictures, words, signs 14

A good message • In line with objectives • Meaningful • Based on felt needs • Clear, understandable • Specific, accurate • Timely, adequate • Interesting • Culturally acceptable 15

Types of communication • One-way communication (Didactic Method) üLectures üKnowledge-imposed üLearning authoritative üLittle audience participation üNo feedback üLess likely : influence behaviour 16

Two-way communication (Socratic ) • Both communicator, audience take part • Raise questions, opinions • Active and democratic • More likely: influence behaviour 17

Continued…. • Verbal : Word of mouth, traditional method • Non-verbal: bodily movements, gestures, postures • Formal: in lines of authority • Informal: gossip circles, more active • Visual: charts, maps • Telecommunication, internet 18

Barriers of communication* • Physiological: hearing, expression • Psychological: emotional disturbances, language/comprehension difficulty • Environmental: noise, invisibility, congestion • Cultural: illiteracy, level of knowledge, understanding, customs, language variations. 19

Health education : aids/ methods • Audio-visual aids: üAuditory aids: radio, tape-recorder, microphones, amplifiers, earphones üVisual aids: Ø Not requiring projection: chalk-board, leaflets, posters, charts, flannelograph ØRequiring projection: slides, film strips üCombined A-V aids: television, sound films, slide-tape combination 20

Methods • Individual approach • Group approach • Mass approach 21

Individual approach • Personal interviews by a doctor • Educate , counsel patients • Take him/her: confidence • Patient listen readily • Persuade : change-behaviour • Opportunity: interact 22

Group approach • Chalk and talk (lecture): üCarefully prepared-presentation: facts, organized thoughts, ideas-qualified persons üChalk: visual component üSpeaker: legibility üGroup: not be more than 30 23

Continued…. . • Flipcharts • Flannelograph • Exhibits, models, specimens 24

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Drawbacks • Students: involved minimum extent • Learning: passive • Not stimulate thinking/problem solving • Comprehension varies student-student 27

Demonstrations • Presentation: perform skill/procedure • Arouse interest • Learning by doing • Changes in behaviour • Demonstration of ORS • Clinical teaching 28

Group discussion • Aggregation of people in situation • Different from classrooms • Freely exchange ideas • Long term compliance: stop smoking • Not less than 6, not more than 12, circle • Recorder prepares report 29

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Panel • 4 -8, sit, discuss problem, larger audience • Chairman/moderator • Spontaneous, natural • Extremely effective: guided, planned 32

Symposium • Series of speeches on selected subject • Each person : specific aspect • No discussion-speakers • Audience: questions 33

Workshop • Series of meeting • Individual work within group • Friendly atmosphere • Expert guidance 34

Role play • Dramatization • Enact roles as observed by them • Audience: suggest alternatives • Discussion of problems-human relationships 35

Conferences, seminars • Large component : commercialized continuing education • Held: regional, state, national level • Comprehensive/single topic in depth 36

Mass approach • One-way communication • Transmit messages: remotest places • Inadequate in changing behaviour 37

Methods in mass media • Television • Radio • Internet • Newspapers • Printed materials/pamphlets • Direct mailing • Posters, billboards • Folk media 38

Summary 39

THANKS 40