CARE ENHANCEMENT QUALITIES OF HEALTH WORKERS IN COMMUNITY SETTING

A.DESCRIPTION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

A community health worker is one who provides basic community health care services for
promotion of health, prevention of illness, simple treatment and rehabilitation. The services utilizes the
philosophy, content, method and skills of public health care.

B. QUALITIES OF A HEALTH WORKER
* Open accept need for joint planning and decision relative to health care in a particular situation not
resistant to change
* Tactful one who presides over an assembly, meeting or discussion in a subtle manner, does not
embarrass
but gives constructive criticisms.
* Coordinator brings into consonance or harmony the communitys health care activity.
* Objective unbiased and fair in decision-making
* Good listener always available for the participant to voice out their sentiments and needs.
* Efficient knowledgeable about everything relevant to his practice; has the necessary skills
expected of him.
* Flexible able to cope with different situations
* Critical thinker desides on what has been analyzed.

C. FUNCTIONS OF A HEALTH WORKER
1. Community health service provider
-Carries out health services contributing to the promotion of health, prevention of illness, early
treatment of illness and rehabilitation.
- Appraises health needs and hazards ( existing or potential).
2. Facilitator
- Helps plan a comprehensive health program with the people
- Continuing guidance and supervisory assistance
3. Health counselor
- Giving appropriate advice and broadening the clients insight about a problem so that
appropriate
decisions are made which can lead to positive resolution of the problem.
- Provides health counseling including emotional support to individuals, family, group and
community.
4. Co-Researcher
-Provides the community with stimulation necessary for a wider or more complex study of
problems.
- Enforce community to do prompt and intelligent reporting of epidemiologic investigation of
diseases.
- Suggest areas that need research ( by creating dissatisfaction)
- Participate in planning for the study and in formulating procedures
- Assist in the collection of data.
- Help interpret findings collectively.
- Act on the result of the research
- Plan and conduct of nursing and related studies that contribute to the improvement of nursing
and
health services, either alone or independently, or in collaboration of other members of the
health
and intersect oral teams.
5. Member of a team
- In operating within the team, one must be willing to listen as well as to contribute, to teach as
well
as to learn, to lead as well as to follow, to share authority as well as to work under it.
- Helps make multiple services which the family receives in the course of health care,
coorfinated and
comprehensive as possible.
- Consults with and refers to appropriate personnel for any other community services.
6. Health Educator
- Health education is an accepted activity at all levels of public work. A health educator is the
one who improves the health of the people by employing various methods or scientific
procedures to stimulate, arouse and guide people to healthful ways of living. She takes into
consideration these aspects of health education.
a. Information- provision of knowledge
b. Education- change in knowledge, attitude and skills
c. Communication- exchange of information


D. TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A HEALTH EDUCATOR

1. Efficient- plans with the people, organizes, conducts, directs health education activities according
to the needs of the community.
2. Good communicator- provides participants with clear and relevant information
3. Good listener- hears whats being said and whats behind the words
4. Keen observer- keeps eye on the proceedings, processes and participants behavior.
5. Systematic- knows how to put in sequence or logical order the parts of the session
6. Creative/Resourceful- uses available resources, involves participants
7. Analytical- critical thinker
8. Tactful- brings about issues in smooth, subtle manner
9. Knowledgeable- able to impart relevant, updated and sufficient input
10. Open- invites ideas, suggestions, criticisms; involves people in decision making
11. With sense of humor- knows how to place a touch of humor to keep audience alive
12. Change agent- involves participants actively in assuming the responsibility for his own learning

GUIDELINES ON HOW TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH EDUCATOR IN TERMS OF:

A)Teaching methodologies/strategies ( selection and use)
- In making decisions about methodologies, the health educator has to choose specific
methods that will bring about the desired output. The methods should also correspond to the
objectives. A technique/ method should:
1. Generate active participation of the learner
2. Provide quick feedback
3. Facilitate transfer of learning to on-the-job situation
4. Develop desirable behavior pattern
5. Motivate participants to improve their level of performance in class and on the job
6. Allow opportunity to learn at individual and group leaders.

Categories of Training Methods Related to Learning Categories

Objectives Learning category Training Methods
To facilitate the Knowledge Lecture
Trainees learning Panel discussion
Symposium
Conference
Field trip
Project methods
Film
Coaching
On-the-job-training
Programmed instruction
Tutorial
Brainstorming
Seminar

Attitude Roleplay
Case study
Group discussion
Simulations
Management games

Skills Demonstrations
Apprenticeship
Exercise
Roleplay
Project method







B. Preparations of Materials
- Are the training aids available?( black board, chalk, pad papers, pentel pens, kraft
paper,masking tape)
- Are the hand-outs well package?

C. Uses of A Teaching Plan
- A teaching plan is a list of steps and activities and equipment needed in health education
sessions. A lesson should be planned by having an outline of what is to be taught and the
methods to be used. Time allocation for the various activities should also be included.



BASIC COMPETENCIES
1.Knowledge 2. Skills 3.Attitude

A. Knowledge- the health worker must have adequate, accurate and up-to-date information on and
understanding of the following:
1. The community under her care- its characteristics, resources, social and professional
organizations, intersectoral agencies and man power concerned with health care and community
development, prevailing health hazards, disease and related problems.

2. Prevailing attitudes,values, cultural practices and beliefs which are relevant to health in the
community.

3. The structure, objectives,functions, service programs and standard operating proceduresof her
employing health agency.

4. The health team: composition,roles and functions of each member

5. Existing referral system and facilities in the community, when and how to refer.