Editorial

Abstract

Education and behavioral changes in health
Defined education as the process of teaching or training and, at the same time, acquiring knowledge, experience and / or development that results from the instructive work, constitutes a social process represented by the modification of the behavior of eventual participants. It is therefore a dynamic process that accompanies the individual during the continuum of life and occurs through formal and informal channels. This process that consists of two parts: the part that provides the stimulus, information and guidance and the other represented by the individual who learns, progresses or benefits in some way from the educational process, results in an increase in awareness, in knowledge, skills and finally in the field of health, in the form of care and quality of life.
Health education has the purpose of improving or promoting the health of the individual, the family, and the community as a result of transforming health information into knowledge and practices, thereby creating or reinforcing healthy habits and constructive patterns of behavior. behavior. In this process, the values ​​and attitudes of the individual have a great influence on the decision to adopt behaviors that continuously promote health. Consequently, it is not possible to consider health education as a specific program, nor should certain professionals be identified as responsible for its implementation, health education must be a complement to the daily performance of all members of the health team, in such a way so that the actions of both are reinforced to the point of achieving the desired changes in behavior in the recipients of the information. Each health professional must be a "health educator".