Employee Wellness Programs: Health Education
Health education is easily integrated into all the areas of comprehensive Employee Wellness Plans and it is unlikely that any of the areas could survive without an educational component. It is a primary element of every primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention program and a way of promoting wellness and optimal health. A comprehensive health education program must be based on theoretically and scientifically sound principles to ensure effectiveness.
Successful health education programs will incorporate adult learning theories and promote active participant involvement in all facets of program planning and implementation. Health education efforts should emphasize skill development and the adoption of health enhancing behaviors while being accessible to all employees, their families and retirees. Methods of delivery may include; one on one instruction, group presentations, seminars, workshops, educational media lending library and health literature distribution. Program examples may include:
• Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)
• Personalized health prescriptions and behavior change assistance
• CPR and first aid training
• Nutrition education programs
• Stress management
• tobacco use cessation programs
• Heart disease and cancer education
• Blood borne pathogens education programs
• Sexual assault prevention programs
• Prenatal care
• Safety education programs
• Self care programs
• Healthy back programs
• Family centered programs
• Supplies of literature and educational media available for employee loan