Holistic perspectives in baccalaureate health promotion education: Addressing the challenge of global public health

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes increased 33% in the US during the 1990's. This trend is expected to continue based on an aging population and changing demographics. The World Health Organization predicts a global diabetes crisis given observed changes in dietary practices and related lifestyle factors. Examples such as this speak to the need for innovative perspectives in university health promotion education curricula. With growing international interest in alternative healing, and the observed relationship between alternative health practices and preventive self-care, adoption of alternative health-oriented curricula merits examination. To explore this a pilot study was conducted comparing three health education courses: Holistic Health, Health Promotion (conventional), and Human Sexuality (issue specific).

Subjects and Methods: A convenience sample of 278 undergraduate students was surveyed in general education courses using a self-administered questionnaire. Outcome measures included reported use of alternative health practices, changes in health behaviors, and personal identification with key social values.

Results: Students in the Holistic Health and conventional Health Promotion courses were significantly more likely to report recent use of alternative health practices, positive effects on health behaviors, and intentions to pursue health careers. Holistic health students were also significantly more likely to report identification with postmodern cultural values, such as environmentalism and related values with global health implications.

Discussion: Given the growing status of alternative health practices, inclusion of holistically-oriented content within university health promotion curricula merits attention as an innovative strategy for attracting students, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and fostering global health perspectives in tomorrows public health leaders.