Employee Wellness Programs: Health Education

Health education is easily integrated into all the areas of comprehensive Employee Wellness Initiatives and it is unlikely that any of the areas could survive without an educational component. It is a key 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 initiatives will incorporate adult learning theories and encourage active participant involvement in all aspects of program planning and implementation. Health education efforts should emphasize skill development and the adoption of health enhancing behaviors while being accessible to all workers, 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 / Health Risk Appraisals
• Personalized health prescriptions and behavior change assistance
• First aid and CPR training
• Nutrition education initiatives
• Stress Management Programs
• tobacco use cessation  initiatives
• Cancer and heart disease education
• Blood borne pathogens education initiatives
• Sexual assault prevention initiatives

• Prenatal care
• Safety education initiatives
• Self care initiatives
• Healthy back initiatives
• Family centered initiatives
• Supplies of literature and educational media available for staff member loan