Health education is a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, social, physical and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death. Health education has as its goal the education of people about health and disease and what can be done to maintain good health, prevent disease, or secure treatment. Health education improves the health status of individuals, families, communities, the state, and the nation. It improves the quality of life for all people. Health education positively influences the health behavior of individuals as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health.
Health education can include health promotion, wellness, health consumerism, and patient education.
By focusing on prevention, it saves society money that individuals, employers, families, insurance companies, medical facilities, communities, the state and the nation would spend on medical treatment. Health education requires intensive specialized study. Members of the profession may belong to a health education professional organization and are committed to a professional code of ethics. The goal of the degree program in Community Health Education is the preparation of health educators that would be employed in community settings. As a profession that bridges the gap between health information and health practices, community health education employment opportunities are expected to increase in variety as major changes in the delivery of health care occur.