The Importance and Advantages of Personalized Health Education with a Private Health Education Specialist
Health education is essential for people to take care of their health and make informed decisions about their healthcare. Individuals or groups may need health education in various situations, such as when they are at risk for certain health conditions, dealing with a specific health condition, facing a health crisis, trying to make changes to improve overall health, or looking for general health information.
There are several options for receiving health education, including:
- Public health campaigns: These are targeted campaigns that focus on educating the public on a specific health issue or concern, such as promoting vaccination or encouraging healthy eating habits.
- School-based health education: This type of education is provided in schools and focuses on teaching students about health and wellness topics, such as personal hygiene, nutrition, and physical activity.
- Community health education: This type of education is provided in community centers, clinics, and other community-based organizations and focuses on educating individuals about specific health issues or concerns.
- Online health education: This type of education is provided through various websites, apps, and other digital platforms and focuses on providing health information and resources to individuals.
- Healthcare provider education: This type of education is provided by healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, and focuses on educating patients about their health conditions, treatments, and self-care.
- Workplace Health Education: This type of education is provided by an employer and focuses on educating employees about health and wellness topics, such as stress management, nutrition, and physical activity.
Of course, there are some inherent drawbacks to each of these. For example, these options are often impersonal, generalized, inflexible, and might be less effective when rooted in outdated or flawed understanding. Moreover, many of these options try to sell you unnecessary supplements and programs.
There is Another Option to Consider
Thankfully, there is another option for obtaining quality health education that might be a better fit for you. That option is to work with a private health education specialist. A private health educator can provide personalized attention, flexibility, confidentiality, expertise, accessibility, cultural sensitivity, and continuity of care. Moreover, these programs can be exceptionally effective when the specialist is trained specifically in behavioral theory.
Personalized attention means that the education is tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals. Flexibility allows the individual to schedule sessions at a convenient time, and the sessions’ location can also be adjusted. Confidentiality is essential for individuals who may feel uncomfortable discussing specific health topics in a group setting. Expertise ensures that the individual receives accurate and up-to-date information and guidance on how to apply that information in real-life situations. Accountability helps individuals stay on track with their health goals and provides them with the necessary support and encouragement to achieve them.
Accessibility plays an important role in health education; a private health educator can provide education in a way that is easily accessible to the individual. This can include considering physical accessibility needs and providing education through remote options such as phone, video conferencing, or other online resources. This is especially important for individuals who may have mobility or transportation issues.
Preference sensitivity is also an important aspect of health education. A private health education specialist can consider the individual’s cultural beliefs, practices, and values when providing education and ensure that the information provided is appropriate and relevant for that individual. This is especially important when you consider diet and supplementation.
Continuity of care is vital to ensure the success of health education; a private health education specialist can provide follow-up sessions, check-ins, and resources to ensure that the individual can apply and maintain the information learned in their daily life. They can also work closely with healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care for the individual.
Special Considerations
The responsibility of proper health education does not fall on the shoulders of the health educator alone. Before exploring anything regarding health, it is important to first decide whether you want to be “right” or “accurate.” There is a difference. Unfortunately, many people have attached themselves emotionally to a particular lifestyle. Often due to clever marketing tactics or Social Proof, their diet and exercise habits and ideas have been contorted, and the results they see are confusing because they engage in what they think is healthy but is actually hurting them. Accuracy tends to resolve such issues.
I should also state that private health educators are usually not physicians. Depending on how you look at that, this could be a good thing considering that nutrition is not a focal point in the training of most physicians, and over half of all American physicians receive zero formal education in physical activity. Private health educators usually have this training and merely work to promote healthy behaviors and preventive care for individuals. However, it is important to note that there are currently no national standards for the field of health education or coaching, so it is recommended that you ensure the person you work with has appropriate education in what they discuss.
Indeed. Health education is crucial for individuals to take care of their health and make informed decisions about their healthcare. Working with a private health education specialist might be just what you need. GrassFire Industries LLC, based in Wichita, Kansas, provides health education through the lens of Health Science. I have advanced education in areas such as exercise prescription, alternative health solutions, disease prevention, applied nutrition and supplementation, general sports medicine, and much more. I am here to help you reach your goals. If I cannot, then I will gladly guide you to someone who can.