Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Future Trends in Health Education Chapter 10

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Background Information n Change is constant; things will continue to change n Predicting the future is risky business n No one knows what the future will hold

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Demographic Changes n Demographic profile – breakdown by age, sex, race, & ethnicity n Change – U.S. population will become more diverse Race African American13.0%14.0%13.7% Hispanic12.2%16.3%21.7% Native American0.90%0.80%01.0% Asian/Pacific Island.04.0%05.7%07.9%

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Demographic Changes (con’t.) n Change – U.S. population will become older n Reasons – Americans living longer; couples having fewer children; baby boomers (1946 to 1964) are reaching middle age YearMedian Age% ≥ 65 yrs. old years % years years years20.5%

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Societal Trends n Much change since 1960, e.g., rights of various groups, ethical concerns, reliance on technology n Technology – i mproved quality of life; will impact us more than ever; health educator will need skills n Family structure will continue to change – traditional family is less common; postmodern family has many variations; health educators will need to operate on new set of norms

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Societal Trends (con’t.) n Political climate – frustration with politics & politicians; various views – conservative, moderate, liberal; health & politics linked; advocacy will become more important for health educators n Medical care – erosion of power in medical care establishment; impact of lifestyle; many uninsured; increase in managed care; costs continue to rise; change is needed; health educators can help

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. The Future of Professional Preparation (Clark, 1994) n Become more analytical thinkers n More partnerships & collaboration n Analyze situations & examine trends; more long-term thinking n Greater emphasis on value clarification; understanding impact of culture n Delivering multilevel interventions; more population-based interventions

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. The Future of Professional Preparation (con’t.) (Clark, 1994) n Enhanced need for quality research to show effectiveness n Incorporate more technology into practice n Need to use schools as a point of delivery of services n More environmental activism n Success of health education judged by improvement in the quality of life

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. The Future of Professional Preparation (con’t.) In summary, health educators will need to be able to respond rapidly to changes in all avenues of society.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. The Future of Credentialing Health Educators n Current eligibility for entry-level based academic preparation n Generic vs. setting-specific certification; sub-special certifications? n Needed for reimbursement of services n Skills vs. content n “Here to stay” n Seriously consider the CHES credential

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Implications for Practice Settings n School –Children learn best when they are healthy –Better coordinated school health programs with emphasis on school health services –Special skills needed n Worksite –Health promotion/education as a fringe benefit –Keep employees (& their families) healthy in order to keep production high & reduce the cost of health insurance

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Implications for Practice Settings (con’t.) n Community/Public Health –Large variety in the work; purpose to monitor & improve health of those they serve –Work more collaboratively; form more coalitions; advocate for policies n Health care –Variety of health facilities (i.e., hospitals, HMOs, clinics) receptive to health educators –Health education is necessary for quality health care

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Alternative Setting Opportunities n Postsecondary institutions n Combining health education & journalism n International health education (e.g., Peace Corps) n Sales (e.g., medical supplies, pharmaceuticals) n Long-term care & retirement communities n Entrepreneurial & consultant roles

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Direction Health Education Must Take (Seffrin, 1997) n Must be a major player in keeping Americans Healthy n Collaborate with other health professionals n Strive for greater professional solidarity n Advocate for those who do not have a voice

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Future Trends in Health Education Chapter 10 – The End