Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 11
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 11.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.1 and 11.2)
Explain the difference between counselling and advice, and give examples of each of them.
Answer
Counselling is a helping process where one person explicitly, and purposefully, gives their time to assist clients to explore their own situation, and act upon a solution. It is the process by which we first understand the problem, and then help the client to understand their problem, and then we need to work together with them to find a solution that is appropriate to their situation. It involves helping people to make decisions and giving them the confidence to put their decision into practice.
Advice is based on opinions and suggestions about what could be done about a situation or problem. It is an opinion given by experts on what to do and how to do it. In advice, the decision is made by the health worker and the clients are expected to follow the decision. But in counselling, the decisions are made by the clients themselves.
Advice is not appropriate in health counselling for two reasons. First, if the advice is right, the person may become dependent on the counsellor for solving all their problems in the future. Second, if the advice turns out to be wrong, the person will become angry and no longer trust the counsellor.
SAQ 11.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.2 and 11.3)
Counselling is all about dealing with problems. Write down a brief description of what you think counselling is, and list the four key stages you can use when working with problems.
Answer
Counselling helps an individual to think about their problems and thus encourage them to develop a greater understanding of their problems. They are then in a position to look for possible solutions and be able to take action.
The four key stages in counselling are:
- Helping the client to identify their problem
- Helping the client to discover the cause of the problem
- Encouraging the client to look at possible solutions to the problem
- Encouraging the client to choose the most appropriate solution which best suits their circumstances.
SAQ 11.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 11.4 and 11.5)
Which of the following are not elements of group dynamics, and which are factors affecting how a group functions?
- Size of the group
- Leadership patterns
- Lecturing
- Administering surveys
- Individual role contributions
- Decision-making
- Needs assessment.
Answer
Items 3, 4 and 7 are all related to health education, but they are not elements of group dynamics. Group dynamics tells us what is happening among the group members or in the group itself. The effectiveness of group functioning depends on several different factors including items 1, 2, 5 and 6: the individual roles of members, the size of the group, the background of the group members, the nature of the task, group decision-making and the pattern of leadership.
SAQ 11.4 (tests Learning Outcome 11.6)
Why do you think health education in schools is so important? List at least three reasons.
Answer
Good health is the foundation for academic success. Children who face violence, hunger, substance abuse, unintended pregnancy and despair cannot possibly focus on academic excellence.
School children spend a significant proportion of their time in the school environment and there is a potential for occurrence and spread of communicable diseases that needs to be addressed.
The school health programme is an opportunity for the healthcare system to include young members of the community in their health objectives. It models the importance of health education at an early age.
Summary of Study Session 11