Public Health Education
While it is true that seeking to preserve the health and well-being of individuals as well as communities is a noble effort, it is not without its challenges with regard to ethical conduct and practice. Consider for example, the role of clarifying the benefits of placebos in clinical trials in developing countries for progressive diseases such as cancer. Is the detriment to some for the preservation of the many, ethical practice? What about the mandatory reporting of HIV status in public schools? Quandaries such as these may present challenges for health educators in practice. By adhering to the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) code of ethics as well as abiding by NCHEC’s Areas of Responsibility for Health Educators, you will ensure the professional delivery of health education for target populations. As a health educator, you must ensure that your client’s best interest as well as your professional capacity is in line with the standards set forth by the profession. For this assignment, review the following scenario. Consider how the SOPHE code of ethics may apply to the scenario. Scenario – As the health and fitness director of a large corporate wellness program, you have been asked to provide data to your supervisor that supports the effectiveness of your program. The trend in the company has been to cut programs that do not carry their weight. The bottom line is important. In your review of the data related to your program, it is obvious that the data are not strong. However, in fairness to you, the program has been in operation for only two years, and it is too early to see the type of results management is looking for. You are the only one who has access to the data, and no one will know if the data you submit are accurate. How will you handle this situation? 1. Give an explanation of which article(s) of the SOPHE code of ethics might best inform the role of health educators in the ethical scenario you were assigned and why. 2. Be specific and provide examples of how these articles of the SOPHE code of ethics http://www.cnheo.org/ethics.html applies to the practice of health education. 3. Then provide a brief description of two article(s) of the SOPHE code of ethics you believe are most important for informing your practice in the field of health education and explain why. 4. Lastly, suggest two alternative articles of the SOPHE code of ethics that you didnt describe, that are of value to the practice of health education. Explain how the articles that you propose might apply to the ethical practice of health education. http://www.cnheo.org/ethics.html
