Summary: Current Health Promotion Pamphlet
Current Health Promotion Pamphlet: Hand washing to Prevent Flu, Colds, Etc.
Current Health Promotion Pamphlet: Hand washing to Prevent Flu, Colds, Etc.
Health promotion is, “The process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health” (Dawson, & Grill, 2012, p. 101). Empowering individuals to address health risk behaviors and care for themselves is an important responsibility. Health education is necessary to affect and influence the public into undergoing the behavior change necessary into a healthier way of life. Current health promotion pamphlets are an easy, simple, but very effective way of sending the message to its target audience if done correctly. …show more content…
This teaching strategy needs to have a defined concept and target audience. Content needs to be accurate, clear, understandable to the audience, entertaining, and concise.
Hand washing is identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as the single most important and effective way to prevent the spread of infection and diseases like colds, flu, RSV, and other diseases (White, Kolble, Carlson, & Lipson, 2005). It is the vigorous scrubbing of soap lathered hands followed by water rinse. The use of alcohol hand sanitizers are also proven as an effective adjunct of hand washing. Multiple researches have proven that improving hand washing reduces the transmission of diseases like colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections (White, et. al., 2005). A current health promotion pamphlet about hand washing to prevent colds, flu, and other illness is timely and effective in sending the message to the public.
Layout Appeal The current health promotion pamphlet hand washing to prevent colds, flu, and other infections is made by Journey Works Health Promotion and Health Education Publishing. It is a trifold describing the importance of hand washing in disease prevention, and when, and how to wash hands to keep healthy (Journey Works, 2013). It is very appealing in its color, images, and with important concepts highlighted in green and bolded. Its simplicity will make anybody pick it up in a doctor’s office or anywhere else.
Content and Quality The content and quality of the pamphlet covers the title hand washing to avoid flu, colds, and other infections very well. It outlines the reason and importance of washing hands in a simple, effective way. It describes proper hand washing technique and the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers very well. It highlights the importance of teaching children to wash their hands using singing the alphabet song. It lists common infections that can be avoided by frequent hand washing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The pamphlet covers the topic accurately and thoroughly. Using this pamphlet as a health education tool is very appropriate and recommended.
Reading Level One in six people have a proficient level in health literacy.
Twenty two percent of the population is said to possess low levels of health literacy (National Patient Safety Foundation, 2007). “Basic health literacy is defined by the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (National Patient Safety Foundation, 2007, n.p.). This is very important in a patient-provider communication. Health promotion strategies are useless if the target audience cannot understand the meaning of the health education. Reading levels of educational materials needs to be appropriate to the health literacy of the target patient population. The Flesch-Kincaid grade level is a readability test commonly used in education. It means the number of years of education needed to understand the text. The health promotion pamphlet on hand washing to prevent flu, colds, and other infections have a reading level of grade four according to the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and an 84% Flesch-Kincaid reading ease score (Readability-Score.Com, …show more content…
2013).
Clarity
The health promotion pamphlet is very easy to understand. Concepts are defined and outlined clearly and simply. It uses simple, easy to understand words that any lay person will relate with. Sentence formation is clear, short, and accurate. It conveys the importance of washing hands, the why, the how, and the when. The layout of the concepts is easy to follow, understand, and remember.
Examples of Health Promotion Health promotion is providing the patient the appropriate health education to empower him into learning, and achieving the necessary behavior change toward a healthier lifestyle. The health belief model is a motivation and behavior change theory that describes the patient’s perception and how this affects the willingness, and motivation to change health-related behaviors. The patient’s perception and understanding of the severity of the disease or illness, his susceptibility, and the risks of the disease, the benefits, and barriers of adapting the behavior change are important variables that need to be addressed by the health educator to modify health-related behaviors (DeYoung, 2009). The pamphlet highlights hand washing as a major health promotion example to prevent common infections like colds, flu, and other infections. It addresses the patient’s perception of the disease by describing the way germs are transmitted and how hand washing prevents the spread of infections. The pamphlet identifies when to wash your hands, and lists simple ways on how to stay healthy. It outlines several infections that can be prevented by simply washing hands and describes the proper technique of hand washing, and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (JourneyWorks, 2013).
Usefulness The health promotion pamphlet about hand washing is very useful and its simplicity makes it easy for the public to follow. It targets everybody, and the concepts are applicable to the coming flu season.
Cultural Competence Cultural sensitivity and competence are important concepts in health promotion. The pamphlet is geared for the public, the masses; it does not distinguish among any ethnic or cultural predisposition. Hand washing is universal, and the prevention of infection a target goal of everybody.
Hints for Self-Management Hand washing is described clearly, accurately, and simply in the health promotion pamphlet. The learner will understand the importance of hand washing as a self-management behavior change. It explains the how and why of washing your hands.
Appropriate Literacy levels for Audience The current health promotion pamphlet on hand washing uses an average grade level of 5.6 according to several readability formulas. Flesch-Kincaid grade level is 4.4, Gunning-Fog score is 6.7 and the SMOG Index is 4.8 (Readability-Score.Com, 2013). The readability level of the pamphlet is appropriate for the public, the masses. The target audience will have no problem understanding the concepts defined and outlined in the health promotion pamphlet.
Conclusion
Health promotion is a major responsibility of health educators and health providers. The health belief model is a useful motivation and behavior change theory that describes the patient’s perception of the disease and its severity, and the benefits and barriers of doing the health-related behavior change (DeYoung, 2009). Empowering patients and family to engage in health promoting behaviors can be achieved by simple, appropriate educational materials like a health promotion pamphlet. Current health promotion pamphlet like the hand washing to prevent infections have a layout that is appealing, a clear and useful content, and a readability-level appropriate for the target audience.
References
Dawson, A., & Grill, K.
(2012). Health promotion: Conceptual and ethical issues. Public Health Ethics, 5(2), 101-103.
DeYoung, S. (2009). Teaching strategies for nurse educators. (2nd Ed). Prentice Hall, Inc. A Pearson Education Company.
JourneyWorks. (2013). Hand washing to prevent flu, colds, and other infections (Brochure). Retrieved from http://www.journeyworks.com/prodinfo.asp?number=5437 National Patient Safety Foundation. (2007). Partnership for clear health communication joins forces with the national patient safety foundation. Retrieved from http://www.npsf.org/updates-news-press/press/partnership-for-clear-health-communication-joins-forces-with-the-national-patient-safety-foundation/ Readability-Score.Com. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.readability-score.com/
White, C., Kolble, R., Carlson, R., & Lipson, N. (2005). The impact of a health campaign on hand hygiene and upper respiratory illness among college students living in residence halls. Journal of American College Health, 53(4),
175.
Current Health Promotion Pamphlet: Hand washing to Prevent Flu, Colds, Etc.
Health promotion is, “The process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health” (Dawson, & Grill, 2012, p. 101). Empowering individuals to address health risk behaviors and care for themselves is an important responsibility. Health education is necessary to affect and influence the public into undergoing the behavior change necessary into a healthier way of life. Current health promotion pamphlets are an easy, simple, but very effective way of sending the message to its target audience if done correctly. …show more content…
This teaching strategy needs to have a defined concept and target audience. Content needs to be accurate, clear, understandable to the audience, entertaining, and concise.
Hand washing is identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as the single most important and effective way to prevent the spread of infection and diseases like colds, flu, RSV, and other diseases (White, Kolble, Carlson, & Lipson, 2005). It is the vigorous scrubbing of soap lathered hands followed by water rinse. The use of alcohol hand sanitizers are also proven as an effective adjunct of hand washing. Multiple researches have proven that improving hand washing reduces the transmission of diseases like colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections (White, et. al., 2005). A current health promotion pamphlet about hand washing to prevent colds, flu, and other illness is timely and effective in sending the message to the public.
Layout Appeal The current health promotion pamphlet hand washing to prevent colds, flu, and other infections is made by Journey Works Health Promotion and Health Education Publishing. It is a trifold describing the importance of hand washing in disease prevention, and when, and how to wash hands to keep healthy (Journey Works, 2013). It is very appealing in its color, images, and with important concepts highlighted in green and bolded. Its simplicity will make anybody pick it up in a doctor’s office or anywhere else.
Content and Quality The content and quality of the pamphlet covers the title hand washing to avoid flu, colds, and other infections very well. It outlines the reason and importance of washing hands in a simple, effective way. It describes proper hand washing technique and the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers very well. It highlights the importance of teaching children to wash their hands using singing the alphabet song. It lists common infections that can be avoided by frequent hand washing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The pamphlet covers the topic accurately and thoroughly. Using this pamphlet as a health education tool is very appropriate and recommended.
Reading Level One in six people have a proficient level in health literacy.
Twenty two percent of the population is said to possess low levels of health literacy (National Patient Safety Foundation, 2007). “Basic health literacy is defined by the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (National Patient Safety Foundation, 2007, n.p.). This is very important in a patient-provider communication. Health promotion strategies are useless if the target audience cannot understand the meaning of the health education. Reading levels of educational materials needs to be appropriate to the health literacy of the target patient population. The Flesch-Kincaid grade level is a readability test commonly used in education. It means the number of years of education needed to understand the text. The health promotion pamphlet on hand washing to prevent flu, colds, and other infections have a reading level of grade four according to the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and an 84% Flesch-Kincaid reading ease score (Readability-Score.Com, …show more content…
2013).
Clarity
The health promotion pamphlet is very easy to understand. Concepts are defined and outlined clearly and simply. It uses simple, easy to understand words that any lay person will relate with. Sentence formation is clear, short, and accurate. It conveys the importance of washing hands, the why, the how, and the when. The layout of the concepts is easy to follow, understand, and remember.
Examples of Health Promotion Health promotion is providing the patient the appropriate health education to empower him into learning, and achieving the necessary behavior change toward a healthier lifestyle. The health belief model is a motivation and behavior change theory that describes the patient’s perception and how this affects the willingness, and motivation to change health-related behaviors. The patient’s perception and understanding of the severity of the disease or illness, his susceptibility, and the risks of the disease, the benefits, and barriers of adapting the behavior change are important variables that need to be addressed by the health educator to modify health-related behaviors (DeYoung, 2009). The pamphlet highlights hand washing as a major health promotion example to prevent common infections like colds, flu, and other infections. It addresses the patient’s perception of the disease by describing the way germs are transmitted and how hand washing prevents the spread of infections. The pamphlet identifies when to wash your hands, and lists simple ways on how to stay healthy. It outlines several infections that can be prevented by simply washing hands and describes the proper technique of hand washing, and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (JourneyWorks, 2013).
Usefulness The health promotion pamphlet about hand washing is very useful and its simplicity makes it easy for the public to follow. It targets everybody, and the concepts are applicable to the coming flu season.
Cultural Competence Cultural sensitivity and competence are important concepts in health promotion. The pamphlet is geared for the public, the masses; it does not distinguish among any ethnic or cultural predisposition. Hand washing is universal, and the prevention of infection a target goal of everybody.
Hints for Self-Management Hand washing is described clearly, accurately, and simply in the health promotion pamphlet. The learner will understand the importance of hand washing as a self-management behavior change. It explains the how and why of washing your hands.
Appropriate Literacy levels for Audience The current health promotion pamphlet on hand washing uses an average grade level of 5.6 according to several readability formulas. Flesch-Kincaid grade level is 4.4, Gunning-Fog score is 6.7 and the SMOG Index is 4.8 (Readability-Score.Com, 2013). The readability level of the pamphlet is appropriate for the public, the masses. The target audience will have no problem understanding the concepts defined and outlined in the health promotion pamphlet.
Conclusion
Health promotion is a major responsibility of health educators and health providers. The health belief model is a useful motivation and behavior change theory that describes the patient’s perception of the disease and its severity, and the benefits and barriers of doing the health-related behavior change (DeYoung, 2009). Empowering patients and family to engage in health promoting behaviors can be achieved by simple, appropriate educational materials like a health promotion pamphlet. Current health promotion pamphlet like the hand washing to prevent infections have a layout that is appealing, a clear and useful content, and a readability-level appropriate for the target audience.
References
Dawson, A., & Grill, K.
(2012). Health promotion: Conceptual and ethical issues. Public Health Ethics, 5(2), 101-103.
DeYoung, S. (2009). Teaching strategies for nurse educators. (2nd Ed). Prentice Hall, Inc. A Pearson Education Company.
JourneyWorks. (2013). Hand washing to prevent flu, colds, and other infections (Brochure). Retrieved from http://www.journeyworks.com/prodinfo.asp?number=5437 National Patient Safety Foundation. (2007). Partnership for clear health communication joins forces with the national patient safety foundation. Retrieved from http://www.npsf.org/updates-news-press/press/partnership-for-clear-health-communication-joins-forces-with-the-national-patient-safety-foundation/ Readability-Score.Com. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.readability-score.com/
White, C., Kolble, R., Carlson, R., & Lipson, N. (2005). The impact of a health campaign on hand hygiene and upper respiratory illness among college students living in residence halls. Journal of American College Health, 53(4),
175.