CHES key terms

A systematic process of gathering information about a community's health problems, resources, and readiness so that programs can be designed to address the most important gaps.

Information already collected by someone else, such as census figures, vital statistics, or prior survey reports, used to describe a population without new data collection.

A small facilitated discussion with roughly six to twelve people chosen for shared characteristics, used to explore beliefs, attitudes, and reactions in the participants' own words.

The specific group a program is designed to serve, selected because its needs, level of risk, or readiness make it the most important and feasible focus of effort.

The conditions where people are born, grow, live, work, and age, such as income, housing, education, and transportation, that shape health outcomes beyond medical care.

The principle that everyone should have a fair opportunity to reach their best health, which requires removing avoidable barriers faced by groups that have been historically disadvantaged.

A person's existing motivation for a behavior, such as knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, values, and perceived needs, that either supports or discourages taking a health action.

A skill, resource, or barrier in the environment, such as money, transportation, program availability, or a newly learned ability, that makes a health behavior easier or harder to perform.

Feedback and social support a person receives after a behavior, from family, peers, employers, or providers, that encourages the behavior to continue or to stop.

A one-page picture linking program resources and activities to short-term outputs and longer-term outcomes, showing the reasoning behind how a program is expected to work.

A goal written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, stating who will change, by how much, and by when.

A framework describing health behavior as shaped by nested levels, individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy, so programs can act at more than one level.

A theory explaining preventive action through perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers, plus cues to action and self-efficacy, which together predict whether someone acts.

A theory describing behavior change as movement through stages, precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, with strategies matched to each person's current stage.

A person's confidence in their ability to carry out a specific behavior successfully even when obstacles arise; it strongly predicts whether the behavior is attempted.

The degree to which a program is delivered as designed, including the core content, dose, and methods intended by its developers.

A small-scale trial run of a program, material, or survey with a sample of the intended audience, done to find and fix problems before full launch.

Evaluation conducted while a program is being planned or refined, used to check whether materials, methods, and delivery are appropriate and acceptable to the audience.

Evaluation that documents what was actually delivered, including reach, dose, fidelity, and participant satisfaction, to show whether the program was implemented as planned.

Evaluation carried out at or after the end of a program to judge whether it achieved its intended outcomes and whether it was worth the resources invested.

The extent to which an instrument or study measures what it is intended to measure, so that conclusions drawn from the data are accurate.

The consistency of a measurement, meaning whether it produces similar results when repeated, across items, or across different raters and occasions.

Deliberate action to influence decisions, policies, or public opinion in support of a health issue, ranging from education and relationship building to direct requests of decision makers.

A legally defined form of advocacy that asks elected officials to support or oppose specific legislation; many organizations restrict or track it separately from general advocacy.

Using the news media strategically to frame a health issue and shape public and policymaker opinion, rather than simply publicizing a program or individual behavior change.

Changes to policies, systems, or the physical and social environment that make healthy choices easier for whole populations, rather than relying on individual effort alone.

The degree to which people can find, understand, and use health information and services to make informed decisions about their health.

Writing and speaking that presents ideas in the audience's own words, with short sentences, active voice, and logical order, so that a first read is understood.

A check that asks learners to explain or demonstrate in their own words what they were just taught, so the educator can confirm understanding and correct confusion.

Dividing a broad population into smaller groups with shared characteristics or needs, so messages and programs can be tailored to each group.

Presenting information so a particular aspect is emphasized, for example the gains from acting or the losses from not acting, to influence how people interpret and respond.

The ability of a program's benefits, partnerships, and funding to continue after initial grant support or concentrated staff attention ends.

Strengthening the skills, resources, structures, and confidence of people and organizations so they can plan and carry out health work on their own over time.

The range of duties, activities, and responsibilities a health education specialist is trained and legally permitted to perform, as set by law, certification, and employer policy.

The process of telling participants what a program, survey, or study involves, its risks and benefits, and that participation is voluntary, before they agree to take part.

A formal set of principles and standards adopted by a profession that guides member conduct and provides a basis for accountability when behavior is questioned.

A temporary or ongoing alliance of organizations and individuals who pool resources and coordinate action around a shared health goal they could not achieve alone.

Any person, group, or organization with an interest in, influence over, or something to gain or lose from a program or decision.

The ability to understand and respond respectfully to the beliefs, values, language, and practices of different cultural groups, and to adapt services so they fit the audience.