The Dimensions of Health Education Literature

An Evaluation of Published Health

Education Research

(2000–2005)

Examples of Information Sources

Newspapers

Magazines

Professional Journals

Internet Based Information

Types of Information Sources Primary Sources

Written by people who actually conducted the data collection or had first hand experience

Refereed journals publish information only after that information has been reviewed by peers

Secondary Sources Written by someone who was not present at the data

gathering or did not participate as part of the study team Value is that it provides a summary of many sources of

information and provides a bibliography of original sources Can also be found in refereed journals

Popular Press Publications Newspapers Magazines Tabloids

Identifying the Components of a Research Article Abstract Introduction Methodology Results Discussion

Critically Reading a Research Article

Were the aims of the study defined in a clear manner? Were the research questions/hypotheses clearly stated? Was the description of the subjects clear? Did the article state how the subjects were recruited? Were the design and location of the study described clearly? Were the data collection instruments described? Did the results directly address the research

questions/hypotheses? Were the conclusions logical in terms of the research design

and data analyses performed? Were the study implications meaningful to the population you

serve?

Evaluating the Accuracy of Non-Research-Based Sources What are the author’s qualifications? What is the style of presentation?

Scientific writing? Generalities? Testimonials?

Are references included? What is the purpose of the publication?

Biases What is the reputation of the publication? Is the information new?

Is the information reliable Is the information valid?

Professional Health Education Journals

Journal/Availability at CSUN PrintOn-Line

American Journal of Health Behavior Yes Yes

American Journal of Health Education Yes Yes

American Journal of Health Promotion Yes No

American Journal of Health Studies No Yes

Health Promotion Practice No Yes

International Quarterly of Community Health Education No No

Journal of School Health Yes Yes

Health Education Research No Yes

Health Promotion International No Yes

Health Education & Behavior No Yes

International Electronic Journal of Health Education No Yes

Promotion and Education Yes No

Indexes

Indexes are books that provide a link to articles of a category of interest from many refereed journals, books and research reports Example: Index Medicus lists articles relating to clinical

and preventive medicine and does not include references to social science articles

The list of journals that are included in the index are found in the front pages of each volume

Many indexes are now on CD-ROM Users begin by looking up a topic of interest in the

index (e.g., health behavior)

Example of Using Index Medicus

Looking up “health behavior” Two sample citations come up

The transitional model of change and HIV prevention: a review. Prochaska JO. Et al. Health Educ Q 1995 May; 22(2): 190-200 (48 ref)

Self-esteem and the value of health as determinants of adolescent health behavior. Torres R. et al. J Adolesc Health 1995 Jan; 16(1): 60-83. (43 ref).

Other Health Education Related Indices Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied

Health Literature Education Index Physical Education Index Current Index to Journals in Education

Abstracts

Abstracts are book volumes that include short summaries of research studies that have appeared in other journals

An abstract is usually more valuable than an index in that an abstract provides both a reference and a summary for each article included.

Using Abstracts

Locate the index at the end of each volume You can such by both subject or author Find the subject or author you are interested in, and

look at the titles of the articles listed under that subject/author heading

At the end of each article reference there is a number G0 to the volume of the abstract that includes that

number (the numbers included in each volume are listed on the outside binding of the volume

Turn to the number of the article you are interested in and locate the desired article abstract

A Sample Abstract #34782 from Psychological Abstracts

34782. Fleury, Julie. (U of North Carolina, School of Nursing, Chapel Hill) The application of motivational theory to cardiovascular risk reduction. IMAGE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1992(Fall), Vol 24(3), 229-239. The level of motivation sustained by an individual has been identified as a primary predictor of success in sustained cardiovascular risk factor modification efforts. This article reviews the primary motivational theories that have been used to explain and predict cardiovascular risk reduction. Specifically, the application of the Health Belief Model, Health Promotion Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-efficacy Theory to the initiation and maintenance of cardiovascular health behavior is addressed. The implication of these theories for the development of nursing interventions as well as new directions for nursing research and practice in the study of individual motivation in health behavior change are discussed.

Abstracts Most Commonly Used by Health Educators Psychological Abstracts Sociological Abstracts Biological Abstracts Recourses in Education

Computerized Databases

An alternative to searching indexes or abstracts manually

Like an index or abstract, each database has a general subject area that it covers Education Medicine Psychology

The Power of Computerized Databases

Provides access to the cumulative information found in several index or abstract sources

Faster than manual searches User can link several concepts together to

narrow the search A user can link two terms such as health

behavior and cardiovascular disease by using the word “and” between the terms

Eliminating any article that only address one or the other of these topics

ERIC

ERIC: Health Behavior

1,762 hits

ERIC: Health Behavior and Cardiovascular Disease

26 hits

Computerized Databases

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

MEDLINE Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied

Health Literature (CINAHL) BIOETHICSLINE Psychological Abstracts (PsychLit) Health Services, Technology, Administration

and Research (Health-STAR)

The Internet and the World Wide Web: Evaluating Information Content Authority Publisher-source References Documentation Facts

Example of Internet Information

Another Example of Internet Information

The Kind of Articles You Will Find

A total of 2610 articles were reviewed. 52% of these articles were research reports

with an identifiable content focus, 28% dealt with the practice of health

education (including planning and process evaluation research),

11% represented theoretical discussions and 9% were reviews of the literature.

Content Distribution

Social Health, 12%

Emotional Health, 5%

Intellecutal Health, 3% Spirtual

Health, 1%

Physical Health, 79%

The General Goal of Health Education

To improve the health knowledge and attitudes of individuals and thereby promote personal behaviors that will lead to optimal health and wellness or high levels of functioning in all of the various dimensions of health*

[*Butler J. Principles of Health Education and Health Promotion, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.]

Beliefs About the Nature of Health

Health is typically defined in the literature as being multidimensional,

This requires a balance among such elements as physical health, emotional health, intellectual health, social health and spiritual health*

Further, these dimensions are considered to be dynamic in as much as the status of one dimension will often influence the condition of another**

[*Cottrell RR, Girvan JT, McKenzie JF. Principles and Foundations of Health Promotion and Education, 2nd ed. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings, 2002.]

[**Butler J. Principles of Health Education and Health Promotion, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.]

The Ultimate Function of Health

It is argued that health is functional primarily for its usefulness in the pursuit of higher aims, rather than merely as an end in itself*

[*Read DA. Health Education: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett, 1997.]

A Philosophical Inconsistency

For the most part the health education literature ignores the multidisciplinary nature of health

And, emphasizes physical health to the detriment of all other aspects of health

This is in direct contradiction with health education’s definition of health

The dynamic nature of health cannot be fully appreciated since there is no way to take into account the impact of each component of health on one another

Inconsistencies in Theory and Practice

The national health objectives for most developed nations (e.g. Healthy People 2010), continue to revolve almost exclusively around the prevention and treatment of physical illness.

We now have firm evidence that the mind and body, far from being separate, are intimately interwoven.

There truly are many dimensions of health that interact with each other.

It is therefore less effective, if not negligent, to research and promote physical health without simultaneously addressing the ‘duality’ of other dimensions of health in a truly integrative fashion.

[USDHHS. Healthy People 2010. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2000]

Barriers to Promoting MultidimensionalWellness

1. Physical health is tangible, understandable, measurable and objective—and it is therefore easy to target (blood pressure, blood lipid profiles, morbidity and mortality rates, energy expenditure, body mass index, etc.).

2. A second barrier is the ambiguity of dealing with dimensions of health that have not achieved a consensus definition, are less tangible and seemingly immeasurable.

3. Finally, there is a reluctance to step into politically charged arenas as the promotion of spirituality

Overcoming Barriers

Pursue organized efforts to clearly define the various dimensions of health in a way that builds consensus.

Place pressure on the crafters of national health objectives to develop objectives that represent a dynamic, multidimensional view of health.

Increase local control over resource allocation that might include intervention and evaluation priorities that target nonphysical dimensions of health.

A willingness to commit time and energy to designing, implementing and evaluating the impact of programs that target various nonphysical dimensions of health

What is a Professional Article

Professional articles are written for a particular audience of professionals in a given field (or sub-field).

These articles are usually technical in nature and follow a range of formats typical of publications in the field.

Assessing Health Literature

In a nutshell, when assessing accuracy, consider the following:

Is the information based on scientific evidence?

Is the information supported by data? Is the original source referenced? Do other sources substantiate the

information? Is the information current?

Red Flags to Watch Out For

The information is anonymous There is a conflict of interest The information is one-sided or biased The information is outdated There is a claim of a miracle or secret cure No evidence is cited The grammar is poor and words are

misspelled