Health Education: A View by the Students of the Nursing Course

Abstract

Introduction: The concept of health education is based on a process
of teaching and learning that seeks to promote health. The professionals
of this area are the highlight of the process, and are the
educators capable of producing strategies that engender possibilities
of transformation for people and communities.
Objective: To analyze the views of beginning and graduating nursing
students on the theory and practice of health education in the
academic environment, and their participation in practical activities
involved with the theme. Methods: This is an exploratory descriptive
study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, which applied a
questionnaire with eleven closed questions.
Results: Students in the first period do not have a broader view,
since none of them has yet studied Health Education as a subject,
while students of the eighth semester count with a theoretical and
practical preparation, since they have studied the subject matter and
have had practical lessons based on lectures and internship activities.
Conclusion: The students at the end of the course have successfully
obtained knowledge about health education. However, freshman
students still have limited knowledge, gained by means of governmental
actions. Thus, by participating, they will acquire basic knowledge,
and it is expected that along the course, they will enrich their
knowledge on the theme area.