Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) can use PhaDoc to Educate Young People.
Certified health education specialists are people who had their theoretical or practical knowledge in health education verified by the national commission for health education credentialing (NCHES 2017). This article aims to list some of the ways these individuals can contribute to the programs and activities of the public health audiovisual documenter (PhaDoc).
Lack of education is a public health crisis
In “The Role of Literacy in Health and Health Care”, Dewalt & Pignone (2005) from the American Family Physician admitted that more than 40 percent of people (American adults) have “fair to poor” literacy skills (Dewalt & Pignone, 2005). In reality, a limited education is one of the causes associated with low health literacy (Hickey et al., 2018).
Now, the problem is that “… less education can make individuals and families more vulnerable during hard times—which can lead to poor nutrition, unstable housing, and unmet medical needs (Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015)”. So, it is undeniable to consider the lack of education as a public health crisis.
The need to educate young people
According to the Bible which is the most read book in the world (Guinness World Records, 2019), it is crucial to educate people when they are still a kid so they can apply the lessons learned, permanently. In the best information before leaving earth (BIBLE), it is recommended to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Segond,1871, Proverbs 22:6). In like manner, a Greek philosopher named Aristotle said one day, “Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man”.
Additionally, Sigmund Freud who is recognized as the father of psychoanalysis agreed that the best time to educate human beings is during adolescence. In a series of lectures, He argued that “It is the education received in early childhood that leaves the deepest imprint” (Freud, 1916). With this in mind, the Public Health Audiovisual Documenter (PhaDoc) estimates it necessary for its programs and activities to address especially young people.
Even though the World Health Organization and PhaDoc consider the young as people aged from 10 to 24 years old (WHO, 2014), it must be noted that PhaDoc will always encourage everyone to take actions that can prevent illness and emergency before they occur.
Thus, PhaDoc welcomes other public health agencies and health education specialists to join its movement. For example, here is how CHES can use PhaDoc to educate young people worldwide.
Join the affiliation program
Quickly, any certified health education specialist can become one of PhaDoc’s affiliates. To do that, the interested specialists must be acting as either an independent vlogger, YouTuber, lecturer, or video editor. In that case, the CHES add their original content to PhaDoc’s database. Interested people can follow this link to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Join the volunteering program
Another way for certified health education specialists to contribute is to join the volunteering program. Within the application form, they get to choose the position where they think they will be better at PhaDoc. For example, they can select the option content creator to help with writing (blog, newsletter, marketing, and reporting).
Join the internship program
PhaDoc allows learners to do practicum virtually. Certified health education specialists can also help monitor the learners by becoming a preceptor. Interested CHES can follow this link to submit their application as soon as possible.
To end, it is important to quote Hahn & Truman (2015) who argued that “a person who lacks basic elements of an education is not fully healthy”, [and they also recognized that] “Attainment of a certain level of formal education by young adulthood affects lifelong health through multiple pathways” (Hahn & Truman, 2015).
So, by integrating PhaDoc as an affiliate, preceptor, or volunteer, Certified Health Education Specialists do nothing wrong but practice one of their 8 cores of responsibilities (National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, NCHEC). Therefore, they are recommended to join the PhaDoc movement as soon as possible to encourage young people to take actions that can prevent illnesses and emergencies before they occur.
References
Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES, n.d.). Health Education Responsabilities. https://www.nchec.org/health-education-responsibilities
Dewalt, D. A., & Pignone, M. P. (2005). The Role of Literacy in Health and Health Care. American Family Physician, 72(3), 387. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0801/p387.html#afp20050801p387-b1
Freud, S. (1916). Introduction to Psychanalysis [Review of Introduction to Psychanalysis].
Guinness World Records (2019). Best-selling book https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction
Hahn, R. A., & Truman, B. I. (2015). Education Improves Public Health and Promotes Health Equity. International Journal of Health Services, 45(4), 657–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731415585986
Hickey, K. T., Creber, R. M. M., Reading, M., Sciacca, R. R., Riga, T. C., Frulla, A. P., & Casida, J. M. (2018). Low health literacy. The Nurse Practitioner, 43(8), 49–55. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000541468.54290.49
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHES 2017). Nchec.org; NCHEC. https://www.nchec.org/
Segond, L. (1871). Bible (114th ed., p. Proberbs 22:6). Vénérable Compagnie des Pasteurs de Genève. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/prov/22?lang=eng
Virginia Commonwealth University. (2015, February 13). Why Education Matters to Health: Exploring the Causes. Vcu.edu. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/work/the-projects/why-education-matters-to-health-exploring-the-causes.html
WHO (2014). Adolescence: A period needing special attention – recognizing-adolescence. Apps.who.int. https://apps.who.int/adolescent/second-decade/section2/page1/recognizing-adolescence.html
