Workplace Health Promotion Programs: Health Education
Health education is easily integrated into all the areas of comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Programs and it is unlikely that any of the areas could survive without an educational component. It is a key element of every primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention program and a way of promoting wellness and optimal health. A broad-based health education program must be based on theoretically and scientifically sound principles to ensure effectiveness.
Successful health education initiatives will incorporate adult learning theories and encourage active participant involvement in all phases of program planning and implementation. Health education efforts should emphasize skill development and the adoption of health enhancing behaviors while being accessible to all employees, their families and retirees. Methods of delivery may include; one on one instruction, group presentations, seminars, workshops, educational media lending library and health literature distribution. Program examples may include:
• Health Risk Assessments
• Individualized health prescriptions and behavior change assistance
• CPR and first aid training
• Nutrition education initiatives
• Stress management
• tobacco use cessation initiatives
• Heart disease and cancer education
• Blood borne pathogens education initiatives
• Sexual assault prevention initiatives
• Prenatal care and Postnatal
• Safety education initiatives
• Self care initiatives
• Healthy back initiatives
• Family centered initiatives
• Supplies of literature and educational media available for employee loan
