Philosophy of Health

Philosophy of Health Education

The most impressive explanation and description of human needs that I have ever had the opportunity to study came from Abraham Maslow in a psychology class. I am certain I am not unique in believing that nearly everything is in Maslow's in terms of what humans require in order to not just sustain life but to thrive. His hierarchy of needs absolutely covers many components of human existence, from physiological needs to self-esteem ("self-actualization"). There is one updated need that would help round out my own philosophy and it actually would come under "self-actualization needs" -- and it is the ability to receive, comprehend, be trained in and put to good use to one's technical abilities and skills. I agree with Robert S. Gold that there is a powerful need to increase the interactivity of health information in terms of reaching more people with better information. I'm not just talking about sending out brochures or distributing cell phones to needy people who are not fully informed about things they can eat, habits they can obtain, exercise they can partake of. Or interviewing them with a clipboard in hand.

What I perceive is for communities to have interactive digital technologies available in every neighborhood -- perhaps in a home that is volunteered, or a community health center, or a library -- that can inform, teach, and even entertain low income people who are not online, who only have a television and maybe a radio but whose health needs are not being met. The obesity crisis (among young people in particular) and the urgent need to address it is a vital social issue that encompasses part of my health education philosophy. In other words, the health of this nation right now is in jeopardy because so many people are grossly, morbidly overweight and those health conditions lead to heart problems, diabetes, stroke, and more. And in many cases the health information they could use is simply not available, albeit there is a McDonald's and a Taco Bell just down the street, and the unhealthy food served there is inexpensive.

Robert S. Gold is committed to reducing the "morbidity" and "mortality" of minority populations, and obviously he's talking about improving health opportunities for people of color, Latinos, American Indians and others. He is on a quest to improve health conditions for minorities without having the costs go up so high it becomes prohibitive. Gold goes on to assert that the current "electronic media" available (television, radio) to promote health education are not adequate. In order to accomplish some of the goals that Gold's philosophy embraces, he says there need to be better databases to record and make available a great deal of information on individuals, communities and states. What are the capacities of people? What can individuals do in order to become more productive? Gold says we don't know that now but with better digital databases making this information available, the health education community can help the citizens become healthier and more productive.

Gold believes that more interactivity in the field of health education is needed in order to "motivate ever larger numbers to achieve their potential." He is correct when he says "right now there is a favorable atmosphere for developing…alternative technology-based solutions." He tends to be a bit on the professorial side, using phrases and language like "dealing equitably and intersectorally" with people's needs and issues. But his point is extremely valid: the technology revolution is here, we must put it to better use to improve the health of the population.