The ABC’s of Health Education

David A. Bedworth holds his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1971 from Butler University. Albert E. Bedworth (1924-2004) was Associate Emeritus, Bureau of School Health Education and Services in the New York State Education Department from 1970 until his retirement in 1979. He created what came to be called the BOCES health coordinator network, a model for regional coordination of health education that was replicated in various forms throughout the nation. Together they wrote The Dictionary Of Health Education which provides a complete, comprehensive guide to the professional and technical words, terms and phrases used in health education. In the post below we have excerpted some definitions that give you a taste for what a valuable resource this book is.

Allopsyche: A person who possesses an extraordinary interest in the outer world rather than in his or her inner life.

Bradley Method of Childbirth: (Also known as husband-coached childbirth.) 1. Emphasizes marital communications, the couple’s sexual relationship, and parental roles.  2. Psychoprophylaxis approach to natural childbirth that includes breathing and relaxing techniques.

Competency-Based Certification: The general process by which the state (or agency or organization authorized by the state) provides a credential to an individual.  Processes may require individuals to demonstrate a mastery of minimum essential generic and specialization competencies and other related criteria adopted by the certification board through a comprehensive written examination and through other procedures that may be prescribed by the board of educational examiners.

Xerostomia: Dry mouth ~ may be caused by disease, some medications, radiation therapy, or aging.  The condition may be treated by the administration of a saline substitute.

Yoked Control: An experimental method in which the control subject receives the same treatment as the experimental subject on the same schedule. Usually, the two subjects are run at the same time and the experimental subject’s reactions control the events presented to the control subject.

Zeigarnik Effect: The tendency to remember incomplete tasks better than completed ones.