Health education: a case for resuscitation

Health education is the component of health promotion designed to achieve learning related to health or illness. While often described by other names, an educational element features in nearly all health promotion activities. Unlike most other public health actions, it focuses on voluntarism and frequently on the individual. Health education and the resources devoted to it grew rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century. However, in the 1970s, many health educators started to question its value. They criticized it as being excessively concerned with disease, victim blaming, politically naive and increasing health inequalities. While promoting knowledge and skills for health was included as one of the five principles of health promotion in the World Health Organization's Ottawa charter, it received much less attention than the other four principles. Health education was also criticized as being ineffective. Methods for evaluating health education are hotly contested but there is evidence that some education interventions are effective. Current health strategies continue to advocate prevention through health education, and workers in many different settings are expected to ensure that health education is provided. These front-line educators should be able to look to those who specialize in health promotion to support their educational activities. This paper argues that the worth of health education compared with other forms of health promotion has been grossly underestimated and it is time to re-assert its importance.