Teaching and Learning for Health - Essay Example

Heath Teaching: Tobacco Healthy living: Smoking Tobacco Introduction Health refers to the level of metabolic or functional efficiency of a human being. In reference to human beings, it refers to the perfect condition of a person’s body free from pain, injury, and illnesses. The objective of this teaching activity is to use a strategy to address tobacco smokers with serious mental complications. The teaching activity targets those who want to quit smoking together with those contemplating on the quitting process. The topic was developed as a result of increase of mental health customers as well as concerns from treatment staff. The aim of the teaching activity was to plan objectives which would be meaningful and imperative to the participants who were to take part in the whole process. It would aim to take a ’ real world’ approach in addressing tobacco addicts in a mental health setting, and borrowed information from mental health paraprofessionals and professionals. This was to increase the reliability of the information to be relayed to the audience. The emphasis of this was to provide proper practice, stress management and health eating to reduce the adverse effects of tobacco. Background Healthy living has been an area of great concern for me. I developed the interest from my childhood and it has grown to be my area of specialization. I have taken even more interest about healthy living as a result of recent of challenges being faced by a lot of smokers. Negligence has risen among smokers and this has led to increased mental cases in health centers. Reported deaths caused by tobacco have also risen by 6% comparing with previous records. Theories and practice of health promotion In order to achieve the set objectives, the teaching process should was designed in a strategic manner that will realize these goals. From analysis done by different philosophers, it is evident that a teaching plan should be accompanied by detailed research. This is to ensure that the information targeted is delivered in the minds of the audience in the most efficient way. The following theories were used: Use of models: This theory was used to create a real picture and by so doing, much emphasis would be created. Most of tobacco smokers end up as in addiction. This was due to lack of the right information, while others end up in the same position as a result of negligence. Another reason behind the use of example is to clear doubts. In reference to an analysis carried out among the audience that I interviewed it I evident that a significant individuals had the knowledge, but they did not know the exact diverse effects with regards to tobacco smoking. Creation of emphasis through illustrations and demonstrations: Photographs and images can be o much help in this activity. This is because it provides a clear indication with regard to the seriousness of the mater. Additionally, what people see remains fresh in their memory for a long time as opposed to what is read. Images of individuals who have suffered mentally from abuse of tobacco played a big role in the teaching practice. Images were extensively used in areas where lectures seemed inefficient. These images helped me in this activity to pass the message across to chronic and mild tobacco users. Use of statistics: Statistical records are always important in any teaching activity. This is to prove to the learners that the person giving the lecture is competent enough to give a material lesson. Most of these individuals were aware of circumstances resulting from tobacco abuse; the item that they lacked it their life is the best strategy to quit as well as a spirit to carry out the process. The use of statistics as a theory made this process have some form of concrete evidence to depict the seriousness of this matter. The three principles used in the activity played a significance part in educating learners to understand the effects of excessive tobacco consumptions. Approaches on offer and why they were chosen Didactic: this refers to a form of delivering a message that is intended to teach where there is a moral instruction which acts as an ulterior. Providing teaching to a group is an effective method meant to help smokers quit since it has more advantages over individual sessions. It allows the group members also to learn from one another and make new friends who also face the same challenge. They are in a position to help one another solve their problems and give each other morale to fight the temptation. Once some smokers see others succeed, they become motivated that they will also succeed. Community teaching is also effective in the process as it gives the desired influence to the people in the society who are smokers through delivering the hazards of involving in the practice (Jay, 2011, pp. 67). Counseling: this is very effective since a therapist addresses the patient by provide them with strong educational component that creates a clear image of smoking. A person is in a position to make a decision to quite smoking. It is more easier to counsel one person as compared to other forms as it involves few numbers of people hence minimizing the possibility of misunderstanding or not getting the message across. A Counselor can also persuade and convince one addict to quit much easier as compared to a group as they are only two of them (Michael, 2011, pp. 78). Academic work Differences in approaches used in the teaching acvity There are various different approaches that maybe adopted to enhance learning and understanding. Individual, group and counseling are the widely practiced since they give relatively good results. The different approach adopted depends on the nature of the population or the group being addressed. Some think that counseling is the most appropriate while community teaching is most appropriate for a large number of people. Support for those who want to quit should be given so that they do not get discouraged but persevere to the end. Choice of the most appropriate method must be done well to ensure that the desired result is achieved. This will demand well-groomed analysis of the available forms, the number of people involved, and culture as well ethical and professional issues (Michael, 2011). Communication theory This refers to an international forum that publishes original high quality research into theoretical development of communication across the wide range of disciplines. Communication is the most important aspect when delivering information is concerned since we must be in a position to express ourselves. When teaching, it is vital to understand these theories to ensure extreme delivery of the message to the tobacco smokers. Cognitive Dissonance Theory: It argues that people will avoid views that are opposite their own in an effort to avoid dissonance feelings. When teaching, one should be aware of this theory to ensure delivery of correct and desired information. Communication accommodation theory: This argues that people will be in a position to adjust their speaking style with others. The teacher should also change their style depending on the audience that is benefiting to ensure absolute comprehension and processing of the information. Cultivation Analysis: This argues that, media plays a very important role in how people view their world. Advertising is a major factor with respect to cigarette smoking since it acts as a way of convincing people to continue the practice. Therefore, people generally accept that it is a good practice however; they give little attention towards examining the practice (McEwen, 2006, pp. 56). Theories related to psychology and teaching Drug rehabilitation centers have addressed psychological dependency in an attempt to equip the patient with methods of interacting in an environment that is drug free. These theories include the ethical theories and professional ethics. Ethical theories: This refers to the moral principles that influence or govern good conduct. Ethically, cigarette smoking is not accepted as it does not portray a good image of the consumer though people have turned a blind eye on the consumers. They should be taught on the ethical issues thought not professional that this habit should not be practiced. Various issues like smoking vary community from community to community. In some communities, it is ethical while in others it is not. It should not be encouraged in our societies as it has many disadvantages that arise from it. These comprise of health problems like high blood pressure, lung cancer and diabetes. Therefore, it is not ethical to practice cigarette smoking (Proescholdbell, 2000, pp. 23). Professional ethics: This refers to the code of conduct that is set by people who are in a certain profession. This creates a set of expected behavior that one is expected to portray in a society or community. These would be of great importance if a code of ethics would be set to govern the smokers. For example, not smoking in a public place would be a good code as it would minimize the number of smokers. This will force cigarette smokers to look for a specific place to smoke. Professional ethics is a training program that is included in various career education programs. For example, counselors and medical assistants are significantly trained on various ethical issues that regard patient’s confidentiality. This is due to the fact that it is unlawful and unethical to discuss the patient’s health records with other people who are not part of the medical care of the patient (Peter, 2011). Discussion on the theories of evaluation Evaluation is the systematic analysis and judgment of various working processes, outcomes and experiences. When evaluating, we have to pay attention to aims, resources and perception. For a cigarette smoker, one has to analyze the resources spent on the activity and the benefits achieved to determine if it is worth or not and definitely it is not worth and hence should not be practiced. Evaluation and education go hand in hand. For one to be an informal educator he has to come up with judgments, make theories and most of all discern whether it happens for the good of all. These theories and judgments that we need to make are the one that drive the consumers towards understanding our perspective in the teaching (Peter, 2011, pp 34). Self evaluation has proved to be very effective and should be an area of major concern when it comes to teaching. Evaluation should be applied by both parties i.e. the smokers and the teachers to ensure good comprehension. When smokers are given detailed information regarding smoking, they are in a position to come up with a proper decision after a careful evaluation. Self evaluation results in desired results since one comes up with a decision that one has the capacity and determination to follow (Gibson, 1998, pp. 56). Benefits gained the activity Consumers are made aware of the various risks of smoking and the various benefits of treatment of tobacco dependence. When the psychiatrists and health specialists are educated on the benefits of incorporating tobacco treatment in their practice ensures more consumers are brought into treatment hence prolonging their lives. After teaching them on the demerits of smoking, they are in a position to understand that they spend a lot of money on smoking and this helps them improve their saving. Smokers are also made aware of passive smoking that can affect other people who inhale air that is contaminated with smoke and hence those who might not quit will smoke in isolated places to avoid affecting other people. The liver has the role of purifying the body by removing harmful chemicals and toxins from the body. Smoking affects the functions of the liver through increasing the activity of enzymes in a smoker’s body. This has the effect that medications are driven out of the body at a faster rate than normal. This prevents the normal functioning of the medication as intended (Urberg, 2009, pp. 34). Cigarette smoke contains over four thousand chemicals and nicotine forms one of these. This smoke also contains sixty known chemicals that cause cancer which include lead which is a heavy metal that damages the brain, nickel which causes increased lung susceptibility, formaldehyde which causes gastro-intestinal and respiratory problems among others. It is therefore an advantage for the teaching of the dangers of smoking to be taught since it equips the consumers with the above information that is vital for their living. An individual is in a position quit smoking and hence avoid the above problems (Peter, 2011 pp. 56). Insight for future teaching Insight refers to the capacity to acquire an accurate and broad initiative comprehending of something. A deep understanding of the topic of delivery is very vital with regard to future teaching. For one be able to deliver the intended message, a detailed research on the topic of discussion is necessary for adequate comprehension of the subject. Planning and preparing well before delivery is also very vital since it boosts confidence during the actual delivery. When one has prepared well for a lecture, it becomes easy to explain to the people as one has the key points that need to be explained to the audience. When one tackles a problem in a certain topic, they gain more understanding on the topic and if they will be expected to deliver it in the future, it will be very easy to handle (World Health Organization, 2011, pp. 67). Appendix From detailed analysis, the best way to handle this people is creating segments. These subsections are in reference to the exact problems facing this people. This was because different groups needed different form of instructions to face the challenge. The group was divided into three sections. These included those with severe effects, those with little effects, and those without (Jay, 2011, pp. 67). Severe effects These individuals had a greater challenge than the others. This is because they had a responsibility to adjust their activities for recovery purposes as they struggle to quit smoking. They were guided on how to remain healthy to enhance their fitness Those experiencing fair/little mental effects These individuals were couched on how to quit smoking before severe effects arose. It was easier to approach them because it is they are aware of dangers of smoking. An explanation on how proper balanced diets can lead to healthy living was given to the groups (Jay, 2011, pp. 67). Teachings given to individuals ‘without any notable effects In reference to information from different leading philosophers, these addicts have difficulties in quitting. This is because they have not experienced the negative part of the behavior. As a result of this, emphasis was created in the group through counseling, and advice. Conclusion Health refers to the level of metabolic or functional efficiency of a human being. Healthy living is under my area of interest. I have developed the interest from my childhood and it has grown to be my area of specialization. This is to ensure that the information targeted is delivered to tobacco smokers in the most efficient way one can use models, creation of emphasis through illustrations and demonstrations and statistics. Communication theory and academic work can be used to help consumers are made aware of the various risks of smoking and the various benefits of treatment of tobacco dependence. Theories related to psychology and teachings have also provided plausible reasons for the tobacco smokers to quit smoking and live a better and healthy life. This teaching activity has helped me to determine the various dangers of tobacco smoking and what precautions can be taken to facilitate better living. It also provided me with the best methods of conveying this vital information to those who needed it most, tobacco smokers. References World Health Organization, 2011. The world health report 2001: mental health : new understanding, new hope. World Health Organization print. Peter, B., 2011.After Tobacco: What Would Happen If Americans Stopped Smoking? Columbia University Press. Michael, T. C. 2011. Clinical manual of prevention in mental health. New York: American Psychiatric Publishers. Jay, C. T., 2011. Handbook of Clinical Psychology Competencies. New York: McGraw hill. Lalonde, M. 1974. A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services. Callahan, D. 1973. The WHO definition of health. The Hastings Center Studies. McEwen, B. S., 2006. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain. Texas: Dialogues Clin Neurosci. Eysenck, J. and Brody, S. 2011. Smoking, health and personality. Willy Brothers and Sons. Urberg, K., Shyu, S. J. and Liang, J. 1990. Peer influence in adolescent cigarette smoking. Columbia University Press. Proescholdbell, R. J. 2000. Home smoking restrictions and adolescent smoking. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Columbia University Press. Gibson, M. 1998. Tobacco: A Study of Its Consumption in the United States, Jack Jacob Gottsegen. New York: McMillan. World Health Organization, 2009. Tobacco Epidemic: Much More than a Health Issue. Geneva: Willey Publishers. Read More