在衛生史的研究中，很少有人注意到基督教教會在近代中國的影響力。在既有的研究中，也很少有研究者注意到：西方衛生觀是如何灌輸至一般民眾的日常生活中的？透過本文研究可以看出，在整個下層民眾的衛生教育上，在二十世紀三○年代前，教會團體實發揮了重大的作用。他們透過對民眾演講的方式，一方面講道理－講基督之道，也講衛生之理。演講是所有衛生活動中最重要的一環，因為不論怎麼貼海報、放電影，最後終究是要有人講解的，這是教育的基本內涵。又對教會來說，「衛生」一詞很好地將教義、道德、強國強種等包裝在一起；並且，改善人們的衛生，跟去除疾病、貧窮、迷信都有關係，故教會把衛生與傳教結合在一起，透過演講的方式逐漸輸入到民眾的日常生活思考中，此方式有別於醫院和醫學校，用另一種方式將西方醫學觀念的種子灑入中國。教會成功的原因，當然與各種宣傳策略與動員有關。以各種音樂、舞蹈、戲曲、電影等為工具，散播衛生觀，其實除了受到近代傳播方式改變的影響，也不可忽略教會本身傳教的活動，其實很多都是靠這些媒介，它多是西方文化的產物，結合運用也顯得更加順理成章。至三○年代後，國家漸漸介入控管衛生事務，一些信仰基督教或由教會醫院變成的西醫，也開始融入國家系統的衛生演講與運動中，衛生演講與傳道之間的關係，遂漸漸變淡，而產生與政府力量相結合的態勢。

This study found that medical missions played an important role in the health education of the general public in the Chinese lower classes before the 1930s. Church groups preached to Christianity as well as the rules of health, to the general public, by giving speeches. Speeches were the most important vehicle, among all the health activities undertaken. No matter how posters are attached or how movies are played, there remains considerable value in people giving explanations, which is the basic connotation of education. In addition, from the point of view of Christian speakers, the wording “health” could be easily integrated with Christian doctrine, morality, a strong nation and strong humankind. Moreover, improvement of human health is associated with getting rid of diseases, poverty and superstition. Consequently, Churches combined health education with missionary works, and gradually conveyed the concept of health to general public in their daily life thinking by giving speeches. Such an approach is different from the education provided by hospitals and medical schools, and it spread the western concept of western medicine to China in a different way. The success of Churches was certainly associated with various publicity strategies and mobilization. Churches used various music, dance, dramas and movies as the tools to convey the concept of health. In addition to the influence of change in modern means of communication, the missionary activities of Churches could not be ignored as well. As a matter of fact, many religious groups use these media to achieve their religious objectives. Because they are the products of western culture, it seems logical to integrate and apply them.