The Department of Health Education and Research was established as one of six (06) Departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences, at the Open University of Sri Lanka. This is the newest Department of the Faculty which has commenced to actively execute in November 2021. The aim of establishing this new Department was to assist other Departments of the Faculty in providing sound knowledge on selected subject areas related to Health Education. On the other hand, the Department is supposed to encourage and promote research activities in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Further, the Department is planning to offer a Bachelor of Science Honours in Public Health Degree Programme in the year 2024. With the Department of Health Education and Research, you will have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills related to Health Education and Research while you are completing your degree within the Faculty of Health Sciences by indulging in a passion for lifelong learning!
Health Education is;
Not only concerned with the communication of information, but also with fostering the motivation, skills and confidence that need to take action to improve health. It includes the communication of information regarding the underlying social, economic and environmental conditions impacting on health. Also the individual risk factors and risk behaviors.
According to the WHO: (World Health Organization)
“Health education comprises consciously constructed opportunities for learning involving some form of communication designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health”
Thus, health education may involve the communication of information, and development of skills that demonstrates the political feasibility and organizational possibilities of various forms of action to address social, economic and environmental determinants of health.
In the past, health education was used as a term to include a wider range of actions including social mobilization and advocacy. These methods are now included in the term health promotion.