CHES Ethics in Health Education 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A health education organization is allocating limited resources for community programs. Using an ethical framework, priority should be given to:
- Programs with the highest media visibility
- Populations with the greatest health need and fewest existing resources (Correct answer)
- Programs that generate the most revenue
- Interventions preferred by administrators
Correct answer: Populations with the greatest health need and fewest existing resources
The principle of justice requires prioritizing those with the greatest need and fewest resources when allocating limited health education resources.
Question 2: A health educator is asked to advocate publicly for a policy position that aligns with their funder's interests but lacks strong evidence. The ethical concern here involves:
- Scope of practice
- Conflict of interest and scientific integrity (Correct answer)
- Lack of cultural competence
- Violation of confidentiality
Correct answer: Conflict of interest and scientific integrity
Advocating for positions driven by funder interests rather than evidence creates a conflict of interest and compromises professional integrity.
Question 3: What is the primary ethical reason for maintaining professional boundaries with program participants?
- To comply with organizational liability policies
- To protect both the client and the professional from exploitation or harm (Correct answer)
- To ensure efficient use of session time
- To satisfy accreditation requirements
Correct answer: To protect both the client and the professional from exploitation or harm
Professional boundaries protect participants from exploitation and maintain the integrity of the therapeutic or educational relationship.
Question 4: A CHES practitioner is approached to endorse a commercial health product for payment. To act ethically, the practitioner should:
- Accept if the product aligns with general wellness
- Disclose the financial relationship and only endorse if evidence supports the product (Correct answer)
- Decline any commercial relationship without exception
- Endorse only if the payment is not publicly disclosed
Correct answer: Disclose the financial relationship and only endorse if evidence supports the product
Transparency about financial relationships and basing endorsements on evidence are both required for ethical professional conduct.
Question 5: Which ethical obligation requires health educators to continue updating their knowledge and skills throughout their career?
- Veracity
- Professional competence (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
- Nonmaleficence
Correct answer: Professional competence
Maintaining professional competence requires ongoing professional development to ensure health education services remain current and effective.
Question 6: A health educator discovers that a program they implemented has caused unintended psychological distress among participants. Ethically, the next step is to:
- Continue the program and monitor results
- Immediately assess and address participant harm and modify or halt the program (Correct answer)
- Report only if participants complain formally
- Complete the program cycle before making changes
Correct answer: Immediately assess and address participant harm and modify or halt the program
Nonmaleficence requires immediate action to assess and minimize harm when a program is found to be causing unintended negative outcomes.
Question 7: In the CHES Code of Ethics, the responsibility to 'serve the public interest' means health educators should:
- Prioritize employer needs above all else
- Place community health and wellbeing above personal or organizational gain (Correct answer)
- Focus exclusively on individual client outcomes
- Defer all decisions to public health authorities
Correct answer: Place community health and wellbeing above personal or organizational gain
Serving the public interest requires health educators to prioritize the health and wellbeing of the community, even over personal or organizational interests.
CHES Ethics in Health Education 5
A health education organization is allocating limited resources for community programs.
Using an ethical framework, priority should be given to: