Though individual professional certification examination and professional preparation program accreditation standards require courses in program planning, little is known about health education practitioners' actual on-the-job use of program planning models. The study hypotheses were: graduate and undergraduate professional preparation programs teach one program planning model; health educators use program planning models on-the-job; and health educators would use a local program planning technical assistance service. A self-administered 39 item survey was mailed to 230 New York City health educators to assess their program planning knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP). Program planning models mentioned in the survey were APEXPH, Comprehensive Health Education Model, Model for Health Education Planning, Model for Health Education Planning and Resource Development, PATCH, PRECEDE, PRECEDE-PROCEED, and Social Marketing. Data on health educator program planning KAP will be presented, including correlations with selected demographic variables. Self-reported barriers to the use of models (assessed in terms of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory category of perceived attributes), and professional preparation and continuing education implications and suggestions will be shared. Participants will be asked to react to the findings and to suggest strategies to increase the use of program planning models. Implications for practice and future research will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this presentation, session participants will be able to: (1) describe health educators' knowledge of program planning models; (2)describe the use of program planning among program planners; and (3) discuss strategies for increasing the use of models in health education practice
Keywords: Professional Preparation, Theory
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.