Nichols J L
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC 20590.
Am J Prev Med. 1994 May-Jun;10(3 Suppl):19-22.
While education programs are essential for changing public health behavior, they are not sufficient. Examples drawn from campaigns to reduce drunk driving and to increase the use of child safety seats, seat belts, and motorcycle helmets illustrate how education--both public information and more formalized education--can help catalyze other actions. However, by itself, education has not generally resulted in significant changes in the behaviors targeted. On the other hand, education of the public and advocacy groups has often helped enact necessary legislation. This sequence has frequently resulted in major behavioral changes. Even in such cases, however, when enforcement is inconsistent, public compliance frequently decreases. Education is an important first step in changing public behavior for better health.
虽然教育项目对于改变公众健康行为至关重要，但仅靠它们是不够的。从减少酒后驾车以及增加儿童安全座椅、安全带和摩托车头盔使用的宣传活动中可以看出，教育——包括公共信息宣传和更正规的教育——如何有助于推动其他行动。然而，教育本身通常并未导致目标行为发生显著改变。另一方面，对公众和倡导团体的教育常常有助于促成必要的立法。这一系列举措常常带来重大的行为改变。不过，即便在这些情况下，如果执法不一致，公众的依从性往往会降低。教育是为改善健康而改变公众行为的重要第一步。
