| Abstract [eng] |
SUMMARY HEALTH EDUCATION EXPERIENCE OF EMPLOYEES IN GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Background. Nowadays, the health system in Lithuania and the western world is medicalized. Public health, prevention, and health education remain secondary alternative to a healthier society and not a priority. It is very important to ascertain how health education is currently being presented and what has to be corrected, in order for these activities to gain significance and become a top priority while seeking for better population health. Aim of this research is to find out what experiences are encountered by employees from governmental and non-governmental organizations in health education activities. A qualitative research is planned for the analysis of the underlying experiences. The aim of this research - to reveal the experiences of employees in teaching a healthy lifestyle. Tasks. 1) to describe the experience of employees in health education activities; 2) to disclose the view of the informants’ to the ongoing health education activities; 3) to figure out a critical assessment and proposals of employees for health education improvement. Methods. Qualitative content analysis method was used to analyse the interviews with seven Vilnius city healthy lifestyle teachers from governmental or non-governmental organizations, who have taken part in a healthy lifestyle training activities for at least 6 months. Results and conclusion. The analysis revealed that employees chose healthy lifestyle training activities mainly because of work-related circumstances. Teachers use a variety of teaching methods, divided into a theoretical (lectures, seminars, individual consultations, etc.) and practical (discussions, games, food tasting, group sessions, etc.) in their teaching practice. Effectiveness of the methods is evaluated by the feedback (for example attendance of sessions, reviews) and objectively in accordance with changes of human health indices. Healthy lifestyle training strengths (long-term experience, good methodical preparation, strong connection with the training group, theory related to practice) and weaknesses (little experience, training limitations, unmotivated participants, weak connection with the training group) were distinguished. Healthy lifestyle teachers’ role has been revealed – one has to be an example and inspiration, leader who shows the way, the one who structures and transfers information. The main difference between GO and NGO workers is the motivation and enthusiasm for healthy lifestyle training activities. Teaching methods chosen by NGO workers are more diverse, modern, broader topics are used, in comparison to training in state institutions. Keywords: qualitative research, interview, healthy lifestyle, training, experience, employees, non-governmental organizations. |
