ILTS Health Education (211) flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Incidence rate

The number of new cases of a disease occurring in a defined population during a specified time period, divided by the population at risk. It measures risk of developing disease.

Prevalence

The total number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a given point in time, divided by the total population. It reflects burden rather than risk.

Relative risk

The ratio of disease incidence among exposed persons to incidence among unexposed persons. A value of one indicates no association; above one suggests increased risk.

Attack rate

The proportion of a population at risk that develops illness during a defined outbreak period. It is calculated as new cases divided by the population at risk.

Primary prevention

Interventions before disease occurs that reduce risk, such as immunization, fluoridation, tobacco prevention education, and seat belt laws. It targets susceptible hosts before pathology begins.

Secondary prevention

Early detection and prompt treatment of existing disease, including screening tests such as mammography, blood pressure checks, and Pap smears, to halt progression and reduce complications.

Tertiary prevention

Rehabilitation and management after disease has caused lasting effects, such as cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy after stroke, and diabetes self-management education, to limit disability.

Health Belief Model

A behavior model holding that action depends on perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action. Barriers often dominate decisions.

Transtheoretical Model

A staged change model with precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Interventions should match the person's current stage rather than assume readiness.

Self-efficacy

Belief in one's capability to execute a behavior successfully. In Social Cognitive Theory it predicts initiation and maintenance and is built through mastery experiences, modeling, and verbal persuasion.

Reciprocal determinism

The Social Cognitive Theory principle that personal factors, behavior, and environment continuously influence one another. Changing any one element can alter the other two.

Health literacy

The capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. It differs from general reading ability.

Teach-back method

A communication technique in which the learner explains information back in their own words, allowing the educator to confirm understanding and correct misunderstandings rather than assuming comprehension.

Informed consent

Voluntary agreement to participate after receiving understandable information about purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives. It requires capacity, disclosure, comprehension, and freedom from coercion.

Needs assessment

A systematic process of gathering data about a population's health problems, resources, and priorities using surveys, interviews, focus groups, and existing records to guide program planning.

SMART objective

A program objective written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Clear objectives allow evaluation of whether the intended change actually occurred.

Formative evaluation

Evaluation conducted during program implementation to monitor activities, reach, and fidelity, providing information to improve delivery before the program ends.

Summative evaluation

Evaluation conducted after a program to judge overall effectiveness, typically measuring whether outcome objectives were met and whether benefits justify costs.

Chain of infection

The sequence of pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link prevents transmission.

Herd immunity

Indirect protection of susceptible individuals that occurs when a sufficiently high proportion of a population is immune, reducing pathogen transmission and outbreaks.

Body mass index

Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. For adults, below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is obese.

Caloric values of nutrients

Carbohydrate and protein each supply about 4 kilocalories per gram, fat supplies about 9, and alcohol about 7. Fat is the most energy-dense macronutrient per gram.

Dietary Guidelines

Federal nutrition recommendations emphasizing nutrient-dense foods, limited added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and regular physical activity. They inform school meals and public programs.

FITT principle

A prescription framework for physical activity: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type. It guides safe progression and individualized exercise recommendations for health benefits.

Communicable disease

An illness caused by a pathogen that can be transmitted from person to person, animal to person, or environment to person through contact, airborne, vector, or vehicle routes.

Noncommunicable disease

A chronic condition not spread between people, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma. Risk is driven largely by behavior, genetics, and environment.

Risk factor

A characteristic, exposure, or behavior statistically associated with increased likelihood of disease. Association does not by itself establish causation.

Social determinants of health

Conditions of birth, growth, living, working, and aging that shape health, including income, education, housing, food security, and neighborhood safety. They drive health inequities.

Cultural competence

The ability to understand and respond respectfully to health beliefs, values, language, and practices of diverse groups, adapting programs rather than merely translating materials.

Plain language

Writing and speaking that presents information so the intended audience can find, understand, and use it the first time, using common words, short sentences, and clear organization.

Confidentiality

The ethical and legal duty to protect private health information from unauthorized disclosure, sharing only with consent or as required by law, such as mandated reporting.

Scope of practice

The boundaries of what a health educator is trained and legally authorized to do, requiring referral to other professionals when needs exceed competence or licensure.

Logic model

A visual framework linking program inputs, activities, outputs, and short-term and long-term outcomes. It guides planning, evaluation design, and stakeholder communication.