Spiritual_Wellness_Holistic_Health_and_the_Practic

Health Education and Health Promotion 73
anthropology fit in with health education other than providing good training or supportive
theory? Community psychology and social work also have been involved in health education
and preventive - medicine - type activities. How do these fit in? (Doley, Meredith, &
Ciminero, 1982; Bartlett & Windsor, 1985; Kane, 1974; McGuire, 1981; Millon, Green,
& Maegher, 1982). These questions have an answer, yet need to be contemplated and the
answers sought so that the identity of the health education field not be lost and a clear
theoretical direction can be established.
THEORETICAL PRESENTATION IN THE LITERATURE
One way the theoretical foundation of health education will be established is through
the literary aspects of the professions. Without the cooperation and support of current
periodicals, theory will not be advanced and the current status quo position will remain.
Current major journals of the field need to examine more closely the types of articles
they choose to publish. One of the purposes of professional societies ’ information vehicles
(major journals, monographs, and special issues) is to advance the theoretical basis
of the profession. It is known that theoretical -foundation-type articles may be refused
for publication in favor of process or more attractive articles that in the opinions of the
editors are more likely to be attractive to the readership. An analysis of publication
activity of the two major journals ( Health Education and Health Education Quarterly)
for the last five years provides some insight through a comparison of the numbers of
articles published in several categories, including the one entitled “theoretical” (see
Table 9.1 and Table 9.2 ).
TABLE 9.1. Types of Articles Published in Health Education, 1981 – 1985
Content Process Research Theory History Yr
15 32 18 7 2 1985 *
13 27 19 5 2 1984
36 42 18 6 1 1983
33 33 9 8 3 1982
15 39 9 8 3 1981
112 173 73 34 11 5 - year total
* Excludes special centennial issue