Difference Between Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

• Wellness is a state of mind and a way of life that involves making choices to enjoy a healthy life.
• Health is partly determined by genes, age, and other uncontrollable factors, whereas wellness is largely determined by individual decisions.

Health Education

• Health education is a process concerned with designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs that enable individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to play active roles in achieving, protecting, and sustaining health.
• The purpose of health education is to contribute to health and well-being by promoting lifestyles, community actions, and conditions that make it possible to live healthy lives.

Responsibilities of Health Educators

• Health educators play a crucial role in using educational processes to promote health and influence well-being.

Legal Basis of Health Education

• The Philippine Constitution of 1987, Article XI, Section 15 states that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
• Article XIII, Section 11 of the Philippine Constitution emphasizes the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to health development, making essential goods, health, and social services available to all people at affordable costs, with priority given to the underprivileged, sick, elderly, women, and children.

Legal Basis of Health Education in Nursing Curriculum

• The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (RA 9173) states that nurses shall provide health education to individuals, families, and communities.
• The nurse educator must possess adequate knowledge of educational principles and current trends and techniques to be applied in the classroom, clinical, and hospital settings.

Importance of Health Education

• Education in healthcare is essential, both for patient education and nursing staff/student education.
• Health education is crucial in preparing clients for self-care management, especially with the current trends in healthcare.
• The nurse's professional role involves teaching, making health education an essential aspect of their job.

Current Health Issues and Trends

• The current healthcare trend involves discharging patients quicker and earlier due to advances in medical technology and healthcare economics.
• Managed care is a healthcare reform aimed at bridging the gap between in-patient services and community-based services.
• Nurses are required to take on greater involvement in client-teaching for self-care management, discharge planning, and providing for continuing care.