Two major ethical issues in health education and promotion: assessing stage of change and cancer screening.
In community health education for behavioral change, valid assessment of stage of change is critical; in health promotion screening for cancer, health insurance coverage is also critical because some communities do not have the freedom to choose to change or to get their cancer treated. Proceeding without valid assessment of stage of change or insurance coverage can cause us harm. Harm comes to the patients when providers label them negatively or cause them anxiety if they cannot afford diagnosis and treatment beyond the screening. Not doing harm, (nonmaleficence) is our most compelling ethics principle. The authors analyze these two issues through the principles of autonomy, justice, and nonmaleficence in both their practice and that of their student with US-Mexico border communities and give recommendations.
Mondragón
D
D
Department of Health Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.
Brandon
J E
JE
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005610:Freedom; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010358:Patient Participation; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012935:Social Justice; D015206:Southwestern United States