PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
I think John Seffrin said it best when he explained that health education should be the “…enabling of individuals to achieve a level of personal freedom…” (SOPHE, 2011). My personal health philosophy relates to this statement in that every individual across the globe should be given the resources to take personal control of their health. My health philosophy emphasizes the importance of educating and informing various communities, especially minorities, helping improve not only their health but their community’s health. With education, patience, and practical skills, everyone can be healthy.
I believe everyone can learn new health habits and apply them to their lives, no matter their stage of life or education level. When I began my internship with children aged six weeks to three years old, I was asked multiple times by friends and family how it was possible to teach children that young about health. Many people did not believe that children as young as six weeks old could understand health topics like heart health. However, as I spent more time in my internship, I discovered children at this age can begin to understand health by giving them small segments of information structured in a way they can understand. In the same sense, this can be applied to every age group deemed “difficult to teach”. Some individuals may need more assistance or repetition of lessons, but everyone can learn how they can stay healthy and how to apply it to their lives. This level of personal freedom comes not only from educating the individual but also educating their family, friends, and community about health issues and needs.
Individuals with disabilities are often overlooked. I learned in my disability classes individuals with disabilities often advocate for better access to healthcare. A study by Beange and Durvasula (2001) explains that people with intellectual disabilities have a lower life expectancy due to unrecognized or poorly managed health conditions. One of the goals of health education is to improve the quality of health for all individuals; therefore, ensuring individuals with disabilities can take care of their health and have the resources to do so is important in helping them on an individual level. Health professionals have a vital role in empowering these individuals to become knowledgeable about their health and ability to change their health behaviors.
Another important characteristic is seeing the potential in others. Having the patience to discuss the importance of improving health with individuals as well as knowing different ways this information can be understood is an important part of what it takes not only to be a health educator, but a health professional. Taking time to converse with individuals and helping them feel supported is necessary for an individual’s comprehension of behavioral changes needed to improve their overall health and well-being. Speaking to others about positive health practices in a way they will understand is imperative towards overall quality of health.
I have always loved Sir Francis Bacon’s quote, “Knowledge is power.” Knowledge can help an individual understand the world around them and build their self- confidence. While improving the knowledge of individual patients and the general population is important, I think health professionals should also continue building on their previous knowledge. All health professionals can continually build their knowledge by keeping up with research, learning from colleagues, and learning from their patients. Health knowledge is changing constantly as researchers see gaps in knowledge or differences in the health of minorities, genders, and communities. Not everyone has gone through the same life experiences; therefore, listening to and learning from patients who have experienced different events will help health professionals better serve individuals in the communities they are helping.
I hope every individual has the health resources and education to be healthy in the six areas of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial. I believe every person has this ability and right to live healthily in order to live life to the fullest. It will take time and collaboration from many different types of health professionals and community members, but I see this as being achieved. Enabling individuals to “achieve a level of personal freedom” through education will attain a better quality of life for individuals, their community, and the world (SOPHE, 2011).
References:
Beange, H and Durvasula, S. (2001, April). Health inequalities in people with intellectual disability: strategies for improvement [online]. Health Promotion Journal of Australia: Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 11(1). https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=458265962928326;res=IELAPA.
SOPHE (2011, February 11). Polishing Your Pedagogy: A SOPHE Webinar Series - #3. Writing Your Philosophy of Health Education Statement. [PowerPoint Slides]. https://www.sophe.org/webinars.cfm