Date of Graduation

Spring 2019

Degree

Master of Science in Health Promotion and Wellness Management

Department

Public Health and Sports Medicine

Committee Chair

Melinda Novik

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a service-learning project on students' willingness, confidence, and perceived importance to incorporate the Certified Health Education Specialist, Areas of Responsibility (CHES-AOR), into their profession. It was hypothesized that students participation in a service-learning project in an undergraduate health and wellness course would be more willing, confident, and perceive it as more important to apply the CHES-AOR within their chosen health profession. Methods: Missouri State University students registered in the fall 2018, undergraduate Health and Wellness service-learning course (KIN-350-001), completed an online survey at the beginning and the end of the semester. Seven questions were structured to assess willingness, confidence and perceived importance for each CHES-AOR. The results were summed and analyzed using paired t-tests. Results: Fourteen (n=14) students completed both the pre- and post-surveys. Significant differences resulted in CHES-AOR I for confidence and total confidence mean scores, overall. No other significant differences were found in willingness and perceived importance. No significant difference in summed perceptions (C+W+PI) for each CHES-AOR. Conclusion: Students were more confident in CHES-AOR I the service-learning project was finished. Overall students were more confident to apply the CHES-AOR possibly because they gained the experience and skills in a real-world way with the use of Service-Learning. A larger sample is needed to gain more insight on how students understand the CHES-AOR when applied to their future health profession. The CHES-AOR are important responsibilities for all health professionals to understand, and this research helps to interpret that from the students’ perspective.

Keywords

health education, health promotion, Certified Health Eduction Specialist, service-learning, health professions

Subject Categories

Curriculum and Instruction | Curriculum and Social Inquiry | Health and Physical Education | Public Health Education and Promotion

Copyright

© Victoria M. Surratt

Open Access

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