Comprehensive health education is important for the promotion of public health. However, increasing health literacy is not always easy as some learners become disengaged or discouraged in the process. For this reason, teachers must use multiple media to get their points across and provide learners with the most relevant information. Firstly, Bradshaw and Hultquist (2016) point out, switching from one medium to another keeps learners entertained and engaged. Secondly, according to Johnson (2017), learners utilize their perception channels differently: for example, one person may be more reliant on written information why another one is more visual and prefers pictures. Lastly, when it comes to health information, some aspects become more clear when they are visualized or even animated as plain text cannot capture all the intricacies of a phenomenon.
The diseases that more people should be aware of are cardiovascular disease and pneumonia, with the latter being especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. An excellent explanation of cardiovascular disease (or simply put, heart disease) is Mayo Clinic. It is important to know that cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term for a range of diseases such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and congenital heart defects.
Mayo Clinic also provides a detailed explanation of pneumonia that can be easily understood even by those who do not have a medical background. Both links contain a well-structured text that includes not only the pathophysiology of the disease but also risk factors and preventive strategies. The articles by Mayo Clinic contain high-quality illustrations that clarify what happens to a person’s heart and lungs when they are affected by the disease. For all their advantages, the articles could elaborate a bit more on preventive strategies, for example, by explaining what constitutes a healthy diet that helps to prevent cardiovascular disease.
References
Bradshaw, M. J., & Hultquist, B. L. (2016). Innovative teaching strategies in nursing and related health professions. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Johnson, A. P. (2017). Teaching strategies for all teachers: Enhancing the most significant Variable. Rowman & Littlefield.