Burke Adam
Institute for Holistic Health Studies, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.
Explore (NY). 2009 Jan-Feb;5(1):45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2008.10.002.
The rising prevalence of chronic disease in the United States signifies a need for innovative health education strategies. One approach would be to integrate holistically oriented alternative health content into university health education curricula. This would capitalize on growing consumer interest in alternative health practices and on the observed relationship between the use of alternative health practices and conventional preventive health behaviors.
The aim of this study was to explore the potential value of alternative health curricula. The study was conducted to obtain information on demographics, attitudes, and behaviors of students enrolled in a holistic health education course.
A cross-sectional survey design was employed.
Data was collected at a public university that offers a comprehensive undergraduate holistic health curriculum.
Participants were undergraduate students fulfilling general education requirements.
A convenience sample of three self-selected groups was surveyed: a holistic health education course, a conventional health education course, and a human sexuality course.
Outcomes included use of alternative health/complementary and alternative medicine practices, perceived effects of courses on health behaviors, intentions for future employment in a health field, and identification with holistic postmodern cultural values.
Holistic health students were significantly more likely to employ alternative health practices and to report identification with holistic cultural values compared with the other two groups. Both holistic and conventional health education students were significantly more likely to report perceived positive effects of courses on health behaviors and intended future employment in a health profession. Implications for health promotion and workforce development are considered.
Findings suggest potential benefits of including holistic health content in university health education curricula. Replication with a larger, representative student sample would be a logical next step.
美国慢性疾病患病率的上升表明需要创新的健康教育策略。一种方法是将整体导向的替代健康内容整合到大学健康教育课程中。这将利用消费者对替代健康实践日益增长的兴趣，以及观察到的替代健康实践与传统预防健康行为之间的关系。
本研究的目的是探索替代健康课程的潜在价值。该研究旨在获取参加整体健康教育课程的学生的人口统计学、态度和行为信息。
采用横断面调查设计。
数据收集于一所提供全面本科整体健康课程的公立大学。
参与者是满足通识教育要求的本科生。
对三个自我选择的群体进行了便利抽样调查：一个整体健康教育课程、一个传统健康教育课程和一个人类性学课程。
结果包括替代健康/补充和替代医学实践的使用、课程对健康行为的感知影响、未来在健康领域就业的意向以及对整体后现代文化价值观的认同。
与其他两组相比，整体健康专业的学生更有可能采用替代健康实践，并报告认同整体文化价值观。整体健康教育和传统健康教育专业的学生都更有可能报告课程对健康行为有积极的感知影响，以及未来打算从事健康职业。研究考虑了对健康促进和劳动力发展的影响。
研究结果表明在大学健康教育课程中纳入整体健康内容可能带来益处。下一步合理的做法是用更大规模、具有代表性的学生样本进行重复研究。
