The philosophy of John Dewey : how it can be applied to health education to increase colorectal cancer screening

Abstract

This paper highlights ways that the writings of John Dewey may be applied to health education about colorectal cancer in the context of a tailored telephone educational program. Specific aspects of Dewey’s philosophy considered include: (1) the role of the teacher as learner, (2) education as an empowering social process (promoting originality, independence, initiative), (3) the changing aims of education, (4) the dynamic nature of subject matter, and (5) the role of caring communication in education. Cases from this education program illustrate how the approach is non-traditional in that it is tailored to the participants by using a humanistic approach. Applying this philosophy to health education is significant because it is based on an important aspect that existing health education theories may not emphasize: the idea that one of the most important reasons why people change is because of trusting, genuine, interpersonal relationships.