Which of the following statements is true?

The purpose of health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health.

Health education aims to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make informed decisions about their health.

1. To direct clients to change unhealthy behaviors is incorrect because it implies that health education is about telling people what to do rather than empowering them to make their own decisions.
2. As health professionals, we are the most knowledgeable to give clients information is incorrect because it implies that health education is only about providing information rather than empowering individuals to make their own decisions.
3. To ensure the clients do the best for their health is incorrect because it implies that health education is about telling people what is best for them rather than empowering them to make their own decisions.

The Health Belief Model is a tool that scientists use to try to predict health behaviors.

It posits that messages will achieve optimal behavior change if they successfully target perceived barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, and threats.

The model is based on the theory that a person’s willingness to change their health behaviors primarily comes from their health perceptions.

Choice A, there is no way to predict who perceives they are susceptible to a disease.

Choice B, perceived susceptibility is powerful in explaining preventive behaviors.

Choice D, individuals do not learn through observing others are not major assumptions of the Health Belief Model.