Care Enhancement Qualities of Health Workers in Community Setting

CARE ENHANCEMENT QUALITIES OF HEALTH WORKERS IN COMMUNITY SETTING A.DESCRIPTION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER A community health worker is one who provides basic community health care services for promotion of health, prevention of illness, simple treatment and rehabilitation. The services utilizes the philosophy, content, method and skills of public health care. B. QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER * Open – accept need for joint planning and decision relative to health care in a particular situation not resistant to change * Tactful – one who presides over an assembly, meeting or discussion in a subtle manner, does not embarrass but gives constructive criticisms. * Coordinator – brings into consonance or harmony the community’s health care activity. * Objective – unbiased and fair in decision-making * Good listener – always available for the participant to voice out their sentiments and needs. * Efficient – knowledgeable about everything relevant to his practice; has the necessary skills expected of him. * Flexible – able to cope with different situations * Critical thinker – desides on what has been analyzed. C. FUNCTIONS OF A HEALTH WORKER 1. Community health service provider -Carries out health services contributing to the promotion of health, prevention of illness, early treatment of illness and rehabilitation. - Appraises health needs and hazards ( existing or potential). 2. Facilitator - Helps plan a comprehensive health program with the people - Continuing guidance and supervisory assistance 3. Health counselor - Giving appropriate advice and broadening the client’s insight about a problem so that appropriate decisions are made which can lead to positive resolution of the problem. - Provides health counseling including emotional support to individuals, family, group and community. 4. Co-Researcher -Provides the community with stimulation necessary for a wider or more complex study of problems. - Enforce community to do prompt and intelligent reporting of epidemiologic investigation of diseases. - Suggest areas that need research ( by creating dissatisfaction) - Participate in planning for the study and in formulating procedures - Assist in the collection of data. - Help interpret findings collectively. - Act on the result of the research - Plan and conduct of nursing and related studies that contribute to the improvement of nursing and health services, either alone or independently, or in collaboration of other members of the health and intersect oral teams. 5. Member of a team - In operating within the team, one must be willing to listen as well as to contribute, to teach as well as to learn, to lead as well as to follow, to share authority as well as to work under it. - Helps make multiple services which the family receives in the course of health care, coorfinated and comprehensive as possible. - Consults with and refers to appropriate personnel for any other community services. 6. Health Educator - Health education is an accepted activity at all levels of public work. A health educator is the one who improves the health of the people by employing various methods or scientific procedures to stimulate, arouse and guide people to healthful ways of living. She takes into consideration these aspects of health education. a. Information- provision of knowledge b. Education- change in knowledge, attitude and skills c. Communication- exchange of information

D. TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH EDUCATOR 1. Efficient- plans with the people, organizes, conducts, directs health education activities according to the needs of the community. 2. Good communicator- provides participants with clear and relevant information 3. Good listener- hears what’s being said and what’s behind the words 4. Keen observer- keeps eye on the proceedings, processes and participants behavior. 5. Systematic- knows how to put in sequence or logical order the parts of the session 6. Creative/Resourceful- uses available resources, involves participants 7. Analytical- critical thinker 8. Tactful- brings about issues in smooth, subtle manner 9. Knowledgeable- able to impart relevant, updated and sufficient input 10. Open- invites ideas, suggestions, criticisms; involves people in decision making 11. With sense of humor- knows how to place a touch of humor to keep audience alive 12. Change agent- involves participants actively in assuming the responsibility for his own learning GUIDELINES ON HOW TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH EDUCATOR IN TERMS OF: A)Teaching methodologies/strategies ( selection and use) - In making decisions about methodologies, the health educator has to choose specific methods that will bring about the desired output. The methods should also correspond to the objectives. A technique/ method should: 1. Generate active participation of the learner 2. Provide quick feedback 3. Facilitate transfer of learning to on-the-job situation 4. Develop desirable behavior pattern 5. Motivate participants to improve their level of performance in class and on the job 6. Allow opportunity to learn at individual and group leaders. Categories of Training Methods Related to Learning Categories Objectives To facilitate the Trainee’s learning

Learning category Knowledge

Training Methods Lecture Panel discussion Symposium Conference Field trip Project methods Film Coaching On-the-job-training Programmed instruction Tutorial Brainstorming Seminar

Attitude

Roleplay Case study Group discussion Simulations Management games

Skills

Demonstrations Apprenticeship Exercise Roleplay Project method

B. Preparations of Materials - Are the training aids available?( black board, chalk, pad papers, pentel pens, kraft paper,masking tape) - Are the hand-outs well package? C. Uses of A Teaching Plan - A teaching plan is a list of steps and activities and equipment needed in health education sessions. A lesson should be planned by having an outline of what is to be taught and the methods to be used. Time allocation for the various activities should also be included.

BASIC COMPETENCIES 1.Knowledge 2. Skills

3.Attitude

A. Knowledge- the health worker must have adequate, accurate and up-to-date information on and understanding of the following: 1. The community under her care- its characteristics, resources, social and professional organizations, intersectoral agencies and man power concerned with health care and community development, prevailing health hazards, disease and related problems. 2. Prevailing attitudes,values, cultural practices and beliefs which are relevant to health in the community. 3. The structure, objectives,functions, service programs and standard operating proceduresof her employing health agency. 4. The health team: composition,roles and functions of each member 5. Existing referral system and facilities in the community, when and how to refer.