Oshada 661 (29-44)
Oshada 661 (29-44)
php/O/index
Volume 1 Nomor 6, August 2024
e-ISSN : 3047-017X
Oshada; Jurnal Kesehatan DOI : https://doi.org/10.62872/gbna7b66
ABSTRACT
Community nurses play an important role in improving community health
through the implementation of educational strategies and programmes tailored to local
needs. This study aims to explore the role of community nurses in designing,
implementing and evaluating health education programmes to improve the quality of
community health. The methodology used included an extensive literature review and
case study analysis of several communities that have adopted such programmes. The
results showed that community nurses contribute significantly to improving health
awareness, knowledge and behaviours, resulting in improved quality of life and reduced
incidence of preventable diseases. Effective education programmes are designed using
interactive learning methods, such as workshops, group discussions and individual
counselling, tailored to the characteristics of the local community. The success of the
programme relies heavily on a collaborative approach between nurses, communities and
local health stakeholders. Ongoing support through professional training and increased
community engagement are key factors for long-term success. This study concludes that
the role of community nurses extends beyond basic medical care to include functioning
as change agents in sustainable health promotion. Recommendations include
strengthening the capacity of community nurses through ongoing training and
developing policies that support the integration of this role in a holistic public health
system.
Keywords : Community Nurses, Educational Programs, Publich Health
INTRODUCTION
Improving public health is key to reducing social inequality and injustice
(Augustia, 2024). Public policies based on the social determinants of health and
adequate public health services are needed to improve these social determinants
(Adler, 2016). The development, implementation and evaluation of health
policies and services play an important role in promoting health, well-being and
equity in society. The Health for All concept aims to build capacity, systems and
resources that support communities. In many countries, public health nurses
(PHNs) have a great responsibility in promoting and improving community
health. In daily practice, PHNs are able to identify health issues related to
individuals, families, and communities that require intervention through the
development of public health policies and services (Deal, 2024). Reducing the
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disease and promote healthy lifestyles. These activities include counselling on
good health practices, such as the adoption of a balanced diet, personal hygiene,
and preventive health care. Community nurses provide information on the
benefits of consuming nutritious food, proper handwashing techniques, and the
importance of regular health check-ups. Community nurses play an important
role in chronic disease management. Their job is not only to provide education
on how to control health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or heart
disease, but also to assist the community in monitoring and managing these
conditions on an ongoing basis. This involves training on proper medication use,
stress management techniques, and strategies to achieve optimal disease control.
Community nurses often collaborate with patients to formulate individualised
care plans and ensure that patients understand and adhere to these plans.
In practice, community nurses work closely with local communities to
identify specific needs and tailor educational programmes according to local
culture and conditions. Interactive and participatory methods, such as
workshops, discussion groups, and health campaigns, are used to deliver health
messages in an effective and accessible manner. This approach not only
disseminates knowledge, but also motivates individuals to adopt healthy
behaviours that can contribute to overall health improvement in the community.
Community nurses play a strategic role in shaping healthy lifestyles in the
community and ensuring that prevention and health promotion efforts are
thorough and sustainable. Their responsibilities include not only education and
disease management, but also active involvement in the development and
implementation of health strategies that meet the needs of the communities they
serve.
The definition of empowerment in the community psychology literature
suggests that this concept can increase individuals' competence and self-esteem,
which in turn increases their perception of personal control. This increased
personal control directly affects individuals' health conditions, as they feel more
capable in managing aspects of their own health. This theory of empowerment
can be extended to include dimensions of social relationships and interactions
with the community. In this context, empowerment focuses not only on
strengthening individuals but also on forming social networks and engaging
with the community. By establishing closer relationships with others and the
community, individuals are expected to gain additional strength through
changes in the external environment and wider social support.
There is a lack of in-depth understanding of the role of community nurses
in the context of developing and implementing health education programmes.
While many studies have addressed the medical aspects of the role of
community nurses, their contribution in designing and implementing health
education programmes has received less attention. Existing research generally
focuses on the provision of basic medical services, without exploring in detail
the effectiveness of various educational strategies implemented, especially in
different local contexts. In addition, while various education programmes have
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Community nurses play a very important role as educators in the
community, with the primary responsibility to teach and promote healthy
lifestyles. Their duties are not only limited to the delivery of health information,
but also involve an active process of facilitating positive changes in people's
behaviour and knowledge. Through various health education programmes,
community nurses seek to change people's habits by providing relevant and
useful information on disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, and health
management. According to Rahmah et al. (2016), health workers, including
community nurses, have a key role in providing health education. The aim of
this education is to change people's knowledge and habits in a sustainable way,
so as to promote optimal health. Community nurses carry out this role through
various activities such as counselling on infectious disease prevention,
environmental health promotion, and education on healthy eating and physical
activity.
Implementing this educative role, community nurses also act as
facilitators who bridge communication between the formal health system and
the community. They must be able to identify the specific health needs of the
communities they serve and customise educational materials according to the
local context. This includes customising information to suit the community's
level of understanding as well as considering relevant cultural and social aspects.
Community nurses also play a role in developing and implementing strategies
that encourage active community participation in health programmes. This
includes involving the community in the planning and evaluation of health
programmes, as well as providing ongoing support to ensure that the desired
behavioural changes are achieved. These efforts are important to ensure that the
health education provided is not only received, but also effectively implemented
in the daily lives of the community. Overall, community nurses as educators
have broad and complex responsibilities. They not only act as conveyors of
information, but also as agents of change who play an active role in empowering
the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Their involvement in health
education is expected to result in a significant impact towards improving the
overall health of the community, as well as contributing to the achievement of
better health in the long run.
RESEARCH METHODS
This study used a qualitative approach with a case study design to explore
and understand the role of community nurses in health education programmes.
This method allowed the researcher to gain in-depth insights into the
experiences, perceptions and challenges faced by community nurses in
programme implementation. This research utilised literature review as the main
method for collecting data. The literature study was conducted by reviewing
various relevant academic sources, including journal articles, books and research
reports that address the role of community nurses in health education
programmes. The sources were selected based on their relevance and
contribution to the understanding of educational strategies, programme
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programmes is to effectively improve people's health knowledge, attitudes and
behaviours. Community nurses apply a holistic and evidence-based approach in
the implementation of educational programmes. Interactive learning methods,
such as workshops, seminars and individual counselling, are often used to meet
the specific needs of the community. Workshops and seminars provide a forum
for communities to participate in health discussions, obtain up-to-date
information and share experiences. This method allows community nurses to
identify and address specific concerns faced by the community and tailor
educational materials to local realities.
Individual counseling is a key element in health education programs.
Community nurses can provide advice that is more personalized and specific to
individuals' needs, and help them develop action plans tailored to their personal
health goals. This approach also allows for more in-depth monitoring and
assessment of individual health behavior change. Community nurses also play a
role in building partnerships with various local stakeholders, such as community
organizations, educational institutions, and other health service providers. These
partnerships are important to ensure that health education programs receive
adequate support and can be integrated with broader public health efforts. This
collaboration also helps in resource mobilization, information dissemination, and
improved access to necessary health services.
Individual counseling is a fundamental element in health education
programs implemented by community nurses. The nurse's approach can provide
advice that is more personalized and suited to each individual's health needs.
Individual counseling allows nurses to evaluate each person's health condition
and specific needs in depth, and help them formulate an action plan that matches
personal health goals. This not only improves the individual's health knowledge
but also encourages more sustainable behavior change. Community nurses play
an important role in building partnerships with various local stakeholders, such
as community organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare providers
(Brownstein, 2021). These partnerships are crucial to ensure that health education
programs receive adequate support and can be integrated with broader public
health efforts. This collaboration enables resource mobilization, dissemination of
relevant information and improved community access to necessary health
services. Collaboration with various stakeholders also facilitates the exchange of
useful information and helps in identifying and addressing shortcomings in
health services.
Multi-stakeholder support allows health education programs to be
designed and implemented more effectively, meeting multiple needs and
adapting to changing community health conditions. Solid and effective
partnerships between community nurses and local stakeholders are key factors
in the success of health education programs, which ultimately contribute to
improving the overall quality of public health. A public health strategy is a
crucial framework for promoting, protecting and improving population health.
It encompasses a range of interventions, policies and programs designed to
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educational interventions have a real positive impact on community health. This
approach will not only strengthen the capacity of community nurses but also
contribute to improving the overall health and well-being of the community
(Karimi, 2024).
Research conducted by Nurhajati (2015) revealed that education has an
important role in organizing communities to improve health. Low education
levels often result in a lack of awareness of environmental health, which can
affect healthy behaviors within the family. Conversely, higher levels of education
can broaden understanding of environmental health and increase awareness of
the principles of Clean and Healthy Living (PHBS). With a better understanding
of diseases, their causes, and non-pharmacological treatments, people can
implement healthy lifestyles independently at home as a preventive measure
(Suprapto, 2019). In educational institutions, counseling on PHBS and training
on how to wash hands properly aims to enable students to recognize the risk of
disease caused by poor hand washing habits. The importance of emphasizing
handwashing behavior from an early age is based on research that shows a
relationship between handwashing habits and a decrease in the incidence of
worms (Umar, 2008). Worm infections can cause stunting and reduce students'
learning abilities. In addition, Suprapto's (2021) research also shows that the
education provided can increase knowledge and awareness of clean living
behavior.
The development of character education programs has yielded positive
results in a number of schools. The program involves various factors that
influence its implementation. Among the factors that support the success of the
character education program is the existence of a school curriculum and learning
activities that are integrated with character education. The barriers are the lack
of professional and character educators, limited access to information, and the
mental attitude of the students themselves. Nevertheless, the implementation of
character education programs in some schools has had a good impact on students
and their social environment.
The development of education in realizing a culture of character in schools
that is horizontal in nature can be done through habituation, exemplary, and
persuasive approaches or inviting school members in a subtle way, by giving
good reasons and prospects that can convince them. Active actions create ideal
situations and conditions in order to achieve ideal goals (Boyatzis, 2016).
Educational institutions only focus on indicators of educational quality that are
superficial and not deep. In fact, if examined further, there are many indicators
of educational quality that can be developed to create competent and quality
graduates (Chalmers, 2017). Research conducted by Khori shows a change in
consumer behavior, namely students and parents, who are now increasingly
demanding aspects such as the quality of graduates, educational facilities, and
education costs (Khori, 2016). Without the intention to make changes, these
indicators can cause educational institutions to become stagnant and not
develop.
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Evaluating the success of a community service program involves systematic
monitoring during the implementation of activities, followed by a thorough
analysis after the program is completed (Saunders, 2020). The success of
extension is measured by seeing the extent to which knowledge about Clean and
Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) increases according to predetermined
parameters (Kosasih, 2021). The monitoring results of the three main programs-
household PHBS counseling, PHBS counseling and practice in primary schools,
and community empowerment for environmental health improvement-show
excellent community participation (Rizal, 2018). In household counseling, the
community was actively involved in discussions and asked questions about
various health issues related to PHBS, indicating that they were very enthusiastic
about the information provided and committed to applying the principles in their
daily lives. In primary schools, the counseling program and training on proper
handwashing received a positive response from students.
Their ability to practice proper handwashing techniques shows that they
have understood and are able to apply the knowledge gained (Kumar, 2017). The
active participation of the community in environmental cleaning activities also
shows that they are committed to improving the quality of their surrounding
environment. This involvement indicates that the community empowerment
program is successful in increasing awareness and concern for environmental
health. Effective counseling can improve public health knowledge (Alamsyah,
2021). The results of monitoring and evaluation, which show an increase in
community knowledge and participation in maintaining environmental health
and cleanliness, can be concluded that this community service program has
succeeded in achieving the set objectives and having a positive impact on the
community.
CONCLUSION
Community nurses play a very important role in improving community
health through the implementation of educational programs tailored to local
needs. They not only provide basic medical services but also serve as prime
movers in health promotion. Educational programs designed and implemented
by community nurses using various interactive methods, such as workshops,
seminars and individual counseling, have proven to be effective in improving
people's health knowledge and behavior. Workshops and seminars provide a
space for communities to engage in open discussions, get up-to-date information
on health issues, and share health management experiences and strategies.
Individual counseling, on the other hand, provides advice that is more
personalized and tailored to each individual's specific needs. The success of these
programs largely depends on the ability of community nurses to adapt
educational materials to the local context and collaborate effectively with local
health stakeholders.
There is an urgent need to conduct systematic evaluations of health
education programs to assess their long-term impact. These evidence-based
evaluations will enable community nurses to make necessary adjustments and
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