Public Policy Involvement by Health Educators

Abstract

Objective: To determine the public policy involvement of health educators. Methods: Mail survey to a random sample of 700 health educators (80% response rate). Results: Respondents performed a mean of 4.84 (SD=3.16) public policy activities and rated their overall involvement as 2.54 (SD=1.22; range 1 to 5). Factors predictive of public policy involvement included public policy efficacy expectations, total number of perceived benefits, employment setting, years as a health educator, and age. Conclusion: Health educators are involved in public policy activities, although there is opportunity for increased involvement.

Knowledge and involvement of nurses regarding health policy development in Thailand

“…They found that the nurses had a moderate and rather high level of knowledge regarding the health reform policy. In another study, the researchers found that the nurses recognized that they had a satisfactory level of knowledge about the methods of changing policies (Holtrop et al. , 2000).…”

Utilizing a Multi-level Approach to Support Advocacy Efforts in the Advancement of Health Education

“…Advocacy is not taught thoroughly in health education professional programs, and this leads to a low self-efficacy regarding advocacy, and creates misunderstandings of what advocacy is, how to go about it, what we can accomplish through advocacy, and why we must advocate.2. 13,33,34 It is time that health educators (and the profession as a whole) embrace advocacy efforts, as advocacy is vital to ensure the advancement of the profession. With regard to this issue, former Surgeon General David Satcher stated, "We must advocate; we must dare to step inside circles that are unfamiliar to us as public health leaders:'35In saying this, it is time that all health educators become involved in advocacy and advocate on behalf of health education, because that is the only way we will advance as a profession.…”

Policy Help Needed, Experience Required

“…Holtrop et al (2000) found that most health educators working on policy voted, contacted public officials, provided policy-related information, and worked on coalitions, but nearly all (98%) reported barriers to other policy involvement, including lack of time, other priorities, and frustration with the process. Thompson et al (2009) found that health commissioners' public policy involvement was marginal and that only 15% perceived their knowledge related to the policy process as excellent.…”