Volume 12, Issue 2 (Summer 2025)
J Prevent Med 2025, 12(2): 141-154 |
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Research code: U-99095
Ethics code: IR.AJUMS.REC.1399.244
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Perceived Challenges of health education practice regarding COVID-19 among health education specialists. J Prevent Med 2025; 12 (2) :141-154
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-840-en.html
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-840-en.html
Abstract: (1151 Views)
Introduction: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed health education and promotion practices, presenting serious challenges for health education specialists. Consequently, this study was conducted to explain the experiences of health education specialists regarding the challenges of health education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis between 2020 and 2021. Participants included faculty members (n=4) and health education and promotion specialists from health centers (n=12), who were invited to participate via maximum variation purposive sampling. In total, 16 interviews were conducted, lasting between 30 and 70 minutes on average. Data were collected through in-person and virtual semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to Granheim and Lundman's approach.
Results: Data analysis yielded 226 primary codes, culminating in three core themes with 17 subthemes. These themes delineated the principal challenges in health education during the pandemic, which were: (1) Challenges in Public Knowledge about COVID-19 (4 subthemes); (2) Prevalent Misconceptions and Attitudinal Barriers (6 subthemes); and (3) Gaps and Challenges in Public Behavior and Practices regarding COVID-19 (7 subthemes).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the challenges of health education during the COVID-19 pandemic are multidimensional and interconnected, manifesting across three domains: awareness, attitude, and behavior. For successful management of future health crises, it is essential to design comprehensive, resilient, and holistic programs that go beyond mere education to rebuild public trust, seriously address socio-economic contexts, and employ innovative educational methods.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis between 2020 and 2021. Participants included faculty members (n=4) and health education and promotion specialists from health centers (n=12), who were invited to participate via maximum variation purposive sampling. In total, 16 interviews were conducted, lasting between 30 and 70 minutes on average. Data were collected through in-person and virtual semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to Granheim and Lundman's approach.
Results: Data analysis yielded 226 primary codes, culminating in three core themes with 17 subthemes. These themes delineated the principal challenges in health education during the pandemic, which were: (1) Challenges in Public Knowledge about COVID-19 (4 subthemes); (2) Prevalent Misconceptions and Attitudinal Barriers (6 subthemes); and (3) Gaps and Challenges in Public Behavior and Practices regarding COVID-19 (7 subthemes).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the challenges of health education during the COVID-19 pandemic are multidimensional and interconnected, manifesting across three domains: awareness, attitude, and behavior. For successful management of future health crises, it is essential to design comprehensive, resilient, and holistic programs that go beyond mere education to rebuild public trust, seriously address socio-economic contexts, and employ innovative educational methods.
Type of Study: Orginal |
Subject:
Health Education
Received: 2025/06/2 | Accepted: 2025/08/26 | Published: 2026/05/19
Received: 2025/06/2 | Accepted: 2025/08/26 | Published: 2026/05/19
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