Cognition and technology in health education research

There is an explicit relationship between knowledge generation, transmission (dissemination and diffusion), knowledge acquisition, and utilization. In order to disseminate and diffuse information for health promotion and disease prevention, there is an assumption that we just need to change the behaviours of people. This paper challenges this notion and suggests that the thinking behind the behaviours (cognition) also needs to be addressed for successful acquisition and utilization of information. Studies focusing on cognition or thought processes and how sociocultural factors influence or interact with cognitive factors is a high priority area of research. This area of research becomes more important if we include technology in the health care delivery system.