Mansoura University

Faculty of nursing
Master preparatory course
2014-2015

Supervised by:
prof. wafaa Ismael
Dr. soad Hassan

Prepared by:
Mona Ibrahim
Mai elsaeed
Mohammed Ali
weam Ibrahim

Out line

Objectives

Definition of methods

Types of Individual method

Types of Group method

Types of Mass method

The criteria of selecting appropriate

method

Objectives
General objective:
Acquire Knowledge about different methods of
health education
Specific Objectives:
At the end of this lecture my college will be able
to:
Define methods of health education
Identify on classification of methods
Discuss types of Individual method
Discuss types of Group method
Discuss types of Mass method
Identify the criteria of selecting appropriate
method and media of health education

What is method?
Methods of health education are the techniques or ways in which series of
activities are carried out to communicate ideas, information and develops
necessary skills and attitude.

1. Individual method:
These

methods

involve

person-to-person

or

face

-to

-face

communication, which provides maximum opportunity for two-way flow

of ideas, knowledge and information. Adequate interaction between the
health educator and his client help provide health education
successfully resulting in attitude and expected behavioral change.
The examples of individual methods of health education are :

Counseling

Interview

2. Group method
An ideal group may consist of six to twelve members depending
upon situation. This small group also can get some opportunity to
ask questions and share ideas, information and experiences.
In spite of the advantage of individual methods a health educator
can not be use because of time limitation and shortage of
manpower. So it will be more practicable for him to provide
health education in-group situations as well.
Teaching in group can also be effective because it also provides
ample opportunity for question answer and discussion.

Examples of Group Methods:1. Group discussion

2.

Demonstration

3.

Mini-lecture.

4.

Problem solving.

5.

Brain storming.

6.

Panel discussion.

7.

Role play

8.

Field trip/educational tour

9.

Workshop/seminar

3- Mass method
This method is especially meant for a large number of heterogeneous
people. Such group of people is commonly termed as mass.

Individual method
Interview
Interview is to meet and talk each other and collect information and ideas. It
is a method of providing health education through the means of question and
answer between the health educator and the learner. In this method,
knowledge, attitude, feeling and health practices are studied and essential
suggestions are given to bring about the positive change.
Advantages of interview
a. Helps to know knowledge , attitude and practice
b. Helps for intensive and systematic teaching with exchange of ideas
and feelings

c. Help to reach a better conclusion for solution of a problem.

d. Easy to conduct with less cost and limited facilities.
e. Even illiterate persons can be interviewed and taught
f. Easy to make follow-up
g. It is a two way communication
h. The expression and gestures can be observed.

Disadvantages of interview
a. Time consuming
b. Difficult to cover wide range of target people
c. Limited manpower
d. Tedious if has to repeat to many people.
Counseling
Definition
Counseling is a process of encouraging and helping an individual in
identifying his or her health problem, the cause of the problem, the ways of
its solution and encourages taking necessary actions to solve it.
Opportunities for counseling
At Hospital
At Home
At School
Advantages of counseling
1. It is helpful in dealing with individual clients and motivate him to take
necessary action to solve his health problem
2. Provides maximum opportunity for feedback.

3. Helps to maintain two way communications.

4. Illiterate people can be taught by this method.
5. Easy to make follow up studies on the basis of counseling records.
Disadvantage of Counseling
1. Counseling takes long period of time.
2. It is difficult to cover wide range of people through counseling
method.

Group Methods of Health Education

1) Demonstration
Definition
Demonstration is the process of providing knowledge and skills as
well as developing attitude of a small group of people through the
manipulation of appropriate teaching devices or materials.
It takes 45 minutes to complete the demonstration but it slightly varies
according to the topic.
The numbers of learners in the group may be about 15 to the
maximum.
Advantages
1. It is the effective teaching method which involves varied learning
experiences like seeing, hearing, feeling, testing and smelling
depending upon the subject of demonstration.
2. It is interesting and draws attention of the learners because of the
active learning process.

3. It helps to develop not only knowledge and attitude but also skills for
required work performance.
4. Students achievement could be immediately assessed through verbal
expression and skill practice.
5. Provides concrete and realistic visual picture of what is being taught
resulting in a more lasting impression.
NB. May be cheap according to situation
Disadvantages
1. Sometimes it may be difficult to get necessary equipment and
materials for certain demonstration.
2. May not be appropriate to conduct demonstrative teaching on certain
topic especially when there will be only cognitive gain.

2)Mini lecture
Definition
Mini lecture is the method of giving information about any subject matter
with the help of short lecture or speech in 10 15 minutes, maintaining the
exchange of ideas between the speaker and the audience, as well as
evaluating about what the audience perceived in between the speech.
Advantages
1.

Two way communications is maintained between the speaker and

audience

2.

The audience gives maximum concentration on the speech.

3.

Since there is quick evaluation in between the speech, the mini-lecture

can be changed according to fit to the knowledge condition of the
audience.

4.

It can be effective in small groups within short time interval

Disadvantages
1. It will be difficult for the speaker to present mini-lecture in short time,
as well as to evaluate and change the mini-lecture according to the
perception of the audience.
2. The audience feels shy and embarrassed when they cannot answer the
questions asked by the speaker.
3. It can be applicable only for small groups.

3) Brain Storming
Brain storming is also called Creative Ideation.
Defnition
This is a modern method of eliciting from the participants, their ideas and
solutions on debatable issues or current problems.
Rules:
Dont criticize or evaluate ideas
Be unconventional in your thinking
Aim for a quantity of ideas in a short time
Build on others ideas
Make contribution in turn
Contribute only one idea during each turn
Pass when you dont have an idea

 Dont provide explanation for your ideas

Laughter ,groans shouldnt be permitted nor should encouraging
comments as," Good idea"
Advantages
1.

Instead of discussing a problem at great length the participants

Provides varieties of useful ideas in short time for quick group
decision regarding some problems without debating amongst
themselves about the pros and cons of their own ideas

2.

Criticism or judgment or discussion is withheld

3.

Enables individuals to think and responses quickly

4.

Decision made by group thinking is better than by individual thinking.

Disadvantages
1. Ideas pulled out may not always be relevant and helpful to make
group decision. It may happen especially with the new learners.
2. It might take some longer time and may not be appropriate for packed
program.

4)Role Playing
Definition
Role play is a socio drama which can be carried out by individual or a
group of people taking different roles and acting out problem situation
similar to that they encounter in their real life situation
They enact roles as they have observed or experienced and act or
pretend to be a sick. Person, as a mother, child, health worker, etc.
In a role playing there will be about 5 to 6 characters and 15-20
audience but the number may be slightly vary according to situation .

Advantages
1. Give learners opportunity to express their ideas based on real life
situation and can learn from each other.
2. Enables the learners to see things through the eyes of others.
3. Develops the power of quick thinking and expression.
4. Develop careful listening habit.
5. Makes people think in a more constructive way.
6. It interesting and provides active learning opportunity in a realistic
way.
7. It simple and inexperience and can easily be conducted at different
situation.
8. The best way to teach people about health in order to make them
understand it.
Disadvantages
1. It may lead to only a recreational activity not educational.
2. Everybody can not successfully act due to shyness, lack of experience,
lack of confidence and expression skills.
3. Every learner may not get opportunity to participate as role player.

5) Workshop
Definition

The workshop is the name given to a novel experiment in education.

It consists of a series of meetings, usually four or more, with emphasis

on individual work, within the group, with the help of consultants and
resource persons.

A workshop group may consist of about fifteen participants.

Advantages

Users are usually very motivated

Have flexibility over length and frequency of sessions

Can offer a series of workshops that build on one another

Disadvantages

Users attending may have a broad range of skills (computer and language)

May have difficulty getting a room if classroom space is in short supply

May be hard to fit everything that you want to cover into a single workshop

Handling large classes for hands-on practice may be difficult

6)Group Discussion
Definition
It is a method of teaching through the direct share of knowledge,
ideas and experiences among small group of persons about a
particular subject or problem within a limited period of time with
a view to solve the problem.
Any discussion should take only an hour or less to avoid boredom

Group size
An ideal group may consist of Six to Twelve members depending
upon the situation so that each person is able to communicate
with all the others face to face to reach to a decision and achieve
the common goal.

 Members of group discussion They are:

1. Leader or chair person
2. Recorder
3. General members

Advantages
1. Develops creativity, confidence and ability of judgment in the
members or learners.
2. Helps learners to come to a group decision and solve their common
problem. Group decision is better than individual decision.
3. Helps members to become active learners and learn new
knowledge, ideas and experiences about their subject of concern
through a cooperative process.
4. Provides adequate communication among all the members with
exchange of ideas and experiences.
5. The health educator can make a closer study of the members of
target group regarding their need, interest, attitude, ability and
other potentialities.
Disadvantages
1. Some self-conscious members may not venture to bring forth their valid
idea "for fear of disapproval by other members.
2. Sometimes discussion may be prolonged without any fruitful result,
or it may take longer time to come to the conclusion or decision.
3. Somebody may not feel personally responsible for the result of
discussion. So, they may not participate well.

7)Panel discussion
Meaning &definition
-Is a situation in which a group of people are gathered together to
discuss an issue, often to provide feedback on something, to
brainstorm solutions to a problem or to discuss an issue of public
concern in front of an audience.
-The panel members will be a group of experts normally 3 or 4 persons
who themselves enter into question and answer process regarding a
specific topic of discussion.
- The health educator can manage to identify and bring the experts.
He can work as a coordinator to introduce topic and the experts, and
also help conduct the discussion.
Advantages
1 Provides varied knowledge, ideas and experiences about the subject of
concern to the learners.
2. Interesting and can draw attention of the audience or learners.
3. Learners get opportunity to ask questions and pass comments, which
help, in teaching-learning process.

Disadvantages
1.

Sometimes it is difficult to get the appropriate experts.

2.

Difficult to set definite time to suit the experts.

8) Field trip
Definition
-A study field is a planned visit to a place away from normal environment
to provide practical knowledge in real situation. It is also called a study
trip or an educational tour.
-The aim of this trip is to observe the subject in its natural state

Advantages
-- The trip itself is fun and creates a bond among those taking part

-- Going where the experts are, and can learn a lot

-- Getting information in person is usually more interesting than getting it

from a book, or from video

-- Social skills are learned when one is exposed to the world

-- Trips are multi-sensory-- visual, audio, tactile, etc...

-- Trips are a model for learning through exploration

Disadvantages
-- An unfocussed trip can be a waste of time

- They cost money

-- They take a lot of organization and effort (but all education should)

-- Participants often tire easily-- if they're unaccustomed to travel

Mass Methods of Health Education

The teaching aids by which knowledge, information and ideas are
communicated with view of dissemination of messages.
Helps health educator to impart knowledge to the audiences.
Teaching aids are used to create awareness and in enforcing learning.

Classification of health education mass

Generally teaching aids or media can be broadly Categorized into 3 types :1.

Audio Aids: learning occurs by hearing e.g. Radio, cassette player

2.

Visual Aids: People learn by seeing .e.g. Posters, pamphlets, flipchart,

flannel graph, Bulletin board etc.

3.

Audio -visual aids: learning occurs by hearing and seeing.eg Television,

film & sound, videotape, movie etc.

Advantages
Reach large no. of people in short time.
It is very much helpful for illiterate people; the message should be
simple to understand
It helps to show abstract information visually. Pictorial explanation is
better and more effective.(as in flip chart)
Helps to provide up -to date information

Disadvantages
It provides one-way communication.
The communicator cannot be sure of are people sure listening to and
understanding his message
Sometimes there may be language barrier to certain group of people.
Difficult in timing to fit the convenience of the specific target people.

What are the criteria of selecting appropriate method and media of health
education explain with examples.
1. Feasibility or practicability: There should be possibility of using the required methods at the place
where we are giving health education, like we cannot use electrical
devices where there is no electricity. Showing film, using overhead
projector is impossible at such places.
2.

Nature of the audience: Proper methods should be used and selected by considering the nature
of audience; we cannot use panel discussion and symposium for
children and newspapers, pamphlets and other written document for
uneducated persons.

3. Accessibility:The method should be effective enough to reach and influence each

members of the total population, where we have to give message. It
should not happen that one part of a community has well assessed to
all sorts of methods and next part is avoided.
4. People's attitude and belief on the method or media: Usually people have more believe on radio, television and national
magazines, but they have less believe on lecture. So giving message

through radio, television and magazines are more reliable and

accepted more by people.

5. Subject or purpose of teachings: We have to select such sorts of methods which will help to fulfill the
objective and needs of the people. It should be selected according to
the interest of the people so that the audience will eagerly participate

6. Audio-visual methods
A- audio-aids method
Radio: Radio is the audio aids through which messages are relayed to a
heterogeneous and large number of people at one time, who are not
physically present before the communicator.

Advantages
1.

It is very much helpful for illiterate people; the message should be

simple to understand.

2.

It leaps the barriers of distance and space.

3.

Radio transmitter can be carried with and attend the radio health
program anywhere the individual goes.

4.

One can give up to date information to a large number of people in a

very short period of time.

Disadvantages
1.

It is one-way communication system.

2.

The communicator cannot be sure of it people sure listening to and

understanding his message.

3.

There may be electricity and batteries problems & broadcasting

facilities are available only in the limited area.

4.

It is difficult to evaluate the impact of radio teaching.

5.

Sometimes there may be language barrier to certain group of people.

6.

Message received only through verbal teaching so it is easy to forget.

7.

Difficult in timing to fit the convenience of the specific target people.

Cassette player/Tape recorder:

Cassette player is a small portable audio machine or equipment, which
can be operated with the help of the electricity or batteries. It is useful for
providing health education (message) to a group of audience.

Advantages
1.

Useful for group teaching session and make discussion.

2.

It can be recorded and played easily at various place.

3.

The recorded message can be pre -tested before using for actual
teaching session

4.

It can be played at learner's speed of learning by stopping in

between or by playing over.

5.

It can be

played with the help of batteries where there is on

electricity supply.
6.

It is portable and easy to carry at different places of teaching

Disadvantages.

1.

It is little costly to afford.

2.

Some people become confused about the operation of equipment

3.

It is little costly afford and added Problem of repairing.

4.

Break of electricity supply or lack of batteries might pose problem.

5.

Learning by hearing only is not effective.

B. Visual Aids
Poster:
This is pictorial and graphical non-projected visual combination of bold
design, color and message, which is intended to catch attention of learners
from long distance to implant a significant idea in his/her mind.
Sometime, poster is made even without picture, such poster is not useful
for the illiterates, a perfect poster should be good for both literate and
illiterate.

A good poster must contain:

Caption
Pictures,
Course of action suggested and
Logo

Qualities of poster
A good poster should carry only one unit of message
Colored poster is more natural, attractive and clear
An ideal size of the poster is (6060) cm but it may be different in size.
The picture

and letters should be big enough to be seen clearly a distance of

about five meters

Message should be

based on the need of target of people and should conform

the existing culture of the community concerned.

Advantages
1. Pictorial and colored posters are attractive and effective.
2. It can be carried easily from one place to another.
3. Can be locally prepared in limited number to meet immediate and local
health education needs
4. Many People can learn something from limited number of posters on
display.
5. Even illiterate people can learn something by looking at the picture of the
poster.
6. Helps to develop creativity of in the learners by involving them in
designing and making posters
7. Can be saved for future use.

Disadvantages
1.
2.

3.
4.

It provides one-way communication.

Color printing of poster is very expensive and printing services may
not be available in rural area or place.
It can damage easily.
Difficult to sure indented group have seen or read the displayed
posters.

Pamphlet:The message can be written in the form of poem, song, and diagram. It
can be written in the form of dialogue. It can also be introduced in the
form of leaflets, folders to convey health related message. A pamphlet
should be as brief as possible, it should be not exceed mote that four
pages

Advantages
1.

Help in propagating messages rapidly in mass scale through wide

distribution.

2.

Pamphlets are very easy to Cary from place to place.

3.

The first reader can pass the read pamphlets to others.

4.

It covers the large number of people place through wide distributions

for the purpose of propaganda

5.

It is easy to prepare and not costly

6.

People can read them at them free time and I\understand the message
well.

7.

It can be kept safely to read again and again, which helps remainder of
the information.

Disadvantages
1.

Provides only one-way communication.

2.

Not useful for illiterates.

3.

There is no sure either the people have read and understood the
distributed pamphlets.

4.

Printing service may not be available everywhere especially in remote

or back ward areas.

Flip chart: It is just like photo album. It is the series of related charts or poster
assembled in a booklet form. It is also called flipbook or turnover chart.
A set of flip chart normally consists of 6-8 charts. A flip chart is mainly
used in classroom teaching, training program, Group teaching in
community etc.

Advantages
1.

Flip chart is helpful to make systematic presentation and to explain the

point clearly and comfortable with in the limited period of time.

2.

It helps to show abstract information visually. Pictorial explanation is

better and more effective.

3.

It is portable ad easy to carry form place to place for providing

4.

It is helpful for both literate and illiterate person to learn.

5.

It can be used repeatedly whenever needed.

Disadvantages
1.

Flip chart is expensive to produce in large scale.

2.

There may be difficulty to draw the appropriate picture.

3.

Ready-made flip chart may not achieve education goals.

4.

It doesn't cover the large number of people at once.

Wall chart:It is diagrammatic representation of certain message. It serves as self-explanatory

visual media in providing health education. It is displayed on the walls of office,
waiting halls so it is called wall chart. The size may slightly vary depending upon
the nature of content or message. A health educator can draw a chart to arrange
or clarify the relationships among individuals within an organization, the
ingredients of a product, steps in a process, the sequence of event in a historical
period.

Disadvantages
1.

Ordinary people may be confused or mislead because of their inability

to read the chart property.

2.

A chart alone does not provide detail description of the subject of

teaching.

3.

All kinds of message may not be presented through chart.

4.

Less useful for illiterate people.