Informed decision-making

Informed decision-making focuses on providing the necessary health information needed to create awareness of a health problem in your community. This approach leaves the actual decision-making about action to the individuals. You might use several different methods in this approach including giving people information about the issues and teaching decision-making skills. It is important to allow people in the community to make the choice themselves as this will build their decision-making skills.

For example, imagine that you have gathered cigarette smokers in your community together. You conduct a health education session aimed at creating awareness about the health risks of smoking cigarettes. During the session you include a role play activity where different members of the group take it in turns to play a smoker and a doctor discussing the health risks associated with smoking. This type of activity encourages decision-making and will help people to make their own decision about whether to stop smoking.