1. The Dimensions of Health Education Literature An Evaluation
of Published Health Education Research (20002005)
2. Examples of Information Sources Newspapers Magazines
Professional Journals Internet Based Information
3. Types of Information Sources
Primary Sources
Written by people who actually conducted the data collection or
had first hand experience
Refereed journals publish information only after that
information has been reviewed by peers
Secondary Sources
Written by someone who was not present at the data gathering or
did not participate as part of the study team
Value is that it provides a summary of many sources of
information and provides a bibliography of original sources
Can also be found in refereed journals
Popular Press Publications
Newspapers
Magazines
Tabloids
4. Identifying the Components of a Research Article
Abstract
Introduction
Methodology
Results
Discussion
5. Critically Reading a Research Article
Were the aims of the study defined in a clear manner?
Were the research questions/hypotheses clearly stated?
Was the description of the subjects clear?
Did the article state how the subjects were recruited?
Were the design and location of the study described
clearly?
Were the data collection instruments described?
Did the results directly address the research
questions/hypotheses?
Were the conclusions logical in terms of the research design
and data analyses performed?
Were the study implications meaningful to the population you
serve?
6. Evaluating the Accuracy of Non-Research-Based Sources
What are the authors qualifications?
What is the style of presentation?
Scientific writing?
Generalities?
Testimonials?
Are references included?
What is the purpose of the publication?
Biases
What is the reputation of the publication?
Is the information new?
Is the information reliable
Is the information valid?
7. Professional Health Education Journals On-Line Print
Journal/Availability at CSUN No Yes Promotion and Education Yes No
International Electronic Journal of Health Education Yes No Health
Education & Behavior Yes No Health Promotion International Yes
No Health Education Research Yes Yes Journal of School Health No No
International Quarterly of Community Health Education Yes No Health
Promotion Practice Yes No American Journal of Health Studies No Yes
American Journal of Health Promotion Yes Yes American Journal of
Health Education Yes Yes American Journal of Health Behavior
8. Indexes
Indexes are books that provide a link to articles of a category
of interest from many refereed journals, books and research
reports
Example: Index Medicus lists articles relating to clinical and
preventive medicine and does not include references to social
science articles
The list of journals that are included in the index are found
in the front pages of each volume
Many indexes are now on CD-ROM
Users begin by looking up a topic of interest in the index
(e.g., health behavior)
9. Example of Using Index Medicus
Looking up health behavior
Two sample citations come up
The transitional model of change and HIV prevention: a review.
Prochaska JO. Et al. Health Educ Q 1995 May; 22(2): 190-200 (48
ref)
Self-esteem and the value of health as determinants of
adolescent health behavior. Torres R. et al. J Adolesc Health 1995
Jan; 16(1): 60-83. (43 ref).
10. Other Health Education Related Indices
Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature
Education Index
Physical Education Index
Current Index to Journals in Education
11. Abstracts
Abstracts are book volumes that include short summaries of
research studies that have appeared in other journals
An abstract is usually more valuable than an index in that an
abstract provides both a reference and a summary for each article
included.
12. Using Abstracts
Locate the index at the end of each volume
You can such by both subject or author
Find the subject or author you are interested in, and look at
the titles of the articles listed under that subject/author
heading
At the end of each article reference there is a number
G0 to the volume of the abstract that includes that number (the
numbers included in each volume are listed on the outside binding
of the volume
Turn to the number of the article you are interested in and
locate the desired article abstract
13. A Sample Abstract #34782 from Psychological Abstracts
34782. Fleury, Julie. (U of North Carolina, School of Nursing,
Chapel Hill) The application of motivational theory to
cardiovascular risk reduction. IMAGE: Journal of Nursing
Scholarship, 1992(Fall), Vol 24(3), 229-239. The level of
motivation sustained by an individual has been identified as a
primary predictor of success in sustained cardiovascular risk
factor modification efforts. This article reviews the primary
motivational theories that have been used to explain and predict
cardiovascular risk reduction. Specifically, the application of the
Health Belief Model, Health Promotion Model, Theory of Reasoned
Action, Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-efficacy Theory to the
initiation and maintenance of cardiovascular health behavior is
addressed. The implication of these theories for the development of
nursing interventions as well as new directions for nursing
research and practice in the study of individual motivation in
health behavior change are discussed.
14. Abstracts Most Commonly Used by Health Educators
Psychological Abstracts
Sociological Abstracts
Biological Abstracts
Recourses in Education
15. Computerized Databases
An alternative to searching indexes or abstracts manually
Like an index or abstract, each database has a general subject
area that it covers
Education
Medicine
Psychology
16. The Power of Computerized Databases
Provides access to the cumulative information found in several
index or abstract sources
Faster than manual searches
User can link several concepts together to narrow the
search
A user can link two terms such as health behavior and
cardiovascular disease by using the word and between the terms
Eliminating any article that only address one or the other of
these topics
17. ERIC
18. ERIC: Health Behavior 1,762 hits
19. ERIC: Health Behavior and Cardiovascular Disease 26
hits
20. Computerized Databases
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
MEDLINE
Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature
(CINAHL)
BIOETHICSLINE
Psychological Abstracts (PsychLit)
Health Services, Technology, Administration and Research
(Health-STAR)
21. The Internet and the World Wide Web: Evaluating Information
Content
Authority
Publisher-source
References
Documentation
Facts
22. Example of Internet Information
23. Another Example of Internet Information
24. The Kind of Articles You Will Find
A total of 2610 articles were reviewed.
52% of these articles were research reports with an
identifiable content focus,
28% dealt with the practice of health education (including
planning and process evaluation research),
11% represented theoretical discussions and
9% were reviews of the literature.
25. Content Distribution
26. The General Goal of Health Education
To improve the health knowledge and attitudes of individuals
and thereby promote personal behaviors that will lead to optimal
health and wellness or high levels of functioning in all of the
various dimensions of health*
[*Butler J. Principles of Health Education and Health
Promotion, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.]
27. Beliefs About the Nature of Health
Health is typically defined in the literature as being
multidimensional,
This requires a balance among such elements as physical health,
emotional health, intellectual health, social health and spiritual
health*
Further, these dimensions are considered to be dynamic in as
much as the status of one dimension will often influence the
condition of another**
[*Cottrell RR, Girvan JT, McKenzie JF. Principles and
Foundations of Health Promotion and Education, 2nd ed. San
Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings, 2002.]
[**Butler J. Principles of Health Education and Health
Promotion, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.]
28. The Ultimate Function of Health
It is argued that health is functional primarily for its
usefulness in the pursuit of higher aims, rather than merely as an
end in itself*
[*Read DA. Health Education: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach.
Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett, 1997.]
29. A Philosophical Inconsistency
For the most part the health education literature ignores the
multidisciplinary nature of health
And, emphasizes physical health to the detriment of all other
aspects of health
This is in direct contradiction with health educations
definition of health
The dynamic nature of health cannot be fully appreciated since
there is no way to take into account the impact of each component
of health on one another
30. Inconsistencies in Theory and Practice
The national health objectives for most developed nations (e.g.
Healthy People 2010), continue to revolve almost exclusively around
the prevention and treatment of physical illness.
We now have firm evidence that the mind and body, far from
being separate, are intimately interwoven.
There truly are many dimensions of health that interact with
each other.
It is therefore less effective, if not negligent, to research
and promote physical health without simultaneously addressing the
duality of other dimensions of health in a truly integrative
fashion.
[USDHHS. Healthy People 2010. Washington, DC: US Department of
Health and Human Services, 2000]
31. Barriers to Promoting Multidimensional Wellness
Physical health is tangible, understandable, measurable and
objectiveand it is therefore easy to target (blood pressure, blood
lipid profiles, morbidity and mortality rates, energy expenditure,
body mass index, etc.).
A second barrier is the ambiguity of dealing with dimensions of
health that have not achieved a consensus definition, are less
tangible and seemingly immeasurable.
Finally, there is a reluctance to step into politically charged
arenas as the promotion of spirituality
32. Overcoming Barriers
Pursue organized efforts to clearly define the various
dimensions of health in a way that builds consensus.
Place pressure on the crafters of national health objectives to
develop objectives that represent a dynamic, multidimensional view
of health.
Increase local control over resource allocation that might
include intervention and evaluation priorities that target
nonphysical dimensions of health.
A willingness to commit time and energy to designing,
implementing and evaluating the impact of programs that target
various nonphysical dimensions of health
33. What is a Professional Article
Professional articles are written for a particular audience of
professionals in a given field (or sub-field).
These articles are usually technical in nature and follow a
range of formats typical of publications in the field.
34. Assessing Health Literature
In a nutshell, when assessing accuracy, consider the
following: