Australian teachers' understandings of the health promoting school concept and the implications for the development of school health

The health promoting school has emerged as a comprehensive framework to enhance the health status and health potential of school students. It requires teachers to be proactive in a number of areas beyond the formal curriculum. The success of health promoting schools will depend largely on what teachers know about its building blocks and the likelihood that they will be adopted. A number of teachers were interviewed and surveyed in a sequential study to ascertain their understanding of what constitutes a health promoting school. The findings indicate that teachers think mainly about school health in terms of the curriculum; have little understanding of how community partnerships might work; are very supportive of the concept; and have limited preservice and inservice training in health issues. It is argued that the growth of health promoting schools will be dependent on comprehensive professional development programmes; the production of resources which link teachers' perceived core business - teaching the mandated curriculum - to the building blocks of the health promoting school; closer collaboration between the health and education sectors; and a recognition by the community that schools cannot easily address (and solve) society's health concerns.Keywords: health promoting school; school health; teachers understandings      

广州市中小学校医公共卫生知识认知及培训效果分析

目的了解广州市中小学及托幼机构校医和保健教师公共卫生知识认知情况,为促进校医和保健教师能力建设提供参考依据。方法对广州市1 515所中小学校及托幼机构的1 527名校医和保健教师进行公共卫生知识培训前后的问卷调查,并对培训前后相关知识的知晓情况进行对比分析。结果广州市中小学及托幼机构校医和保健教师培训前公共卫生知识知晓率为68.73%,知识测试得分为71.7分,其中幼儿园最低,综合性学校较高;培训后公共卫生知晓率达80.83%,提高12.1个百分点,知识测试得分达82.3分,提高了10.6分(P值均<0.01)。结论卫生与教育部门应通力合作,对薄弱环节进行重点培训,提高校医和保健教师的理论基础和实践能力。     

Neighbourhood socioeconomic status, health and working conditions of school teachers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of workplace neighbourhood socioeconomic status with health behaviours, health and working conditions among school teachers. Method: The survey responses and employer records of 1862 teachers were linked to census data on school neighbourhood socioeconomic status. In the multilevel analysis, adjustments were made for demographics, work factors and the socioeconomic status of the teacher's own residential area. SETTING: 226 public schools in Finland. RESULTS: Teachers working in schools from neighbourhoods with the lowest socioeconomic status reported heavy alcohol consumption (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.32 to 3.83) and higher probability of doctor-diagnosed mental disorders (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.12) more often than teachers working in schools located in the wealthiest neighbourhoods. After controlling for the socioeconomic status of the teacher's own residential area, only heavy alcohol consumption remained statistically significant. Teachers working in schools with lower socioeconomic status also reported lower frequency of workplace meetings, lower participation in occupational training, lower teaching efficacy and higher mental workload. CONCLUSIONS: School neighbourhood socioeconomic status is associated with working conditions and health of school teachers. The association with health is partially explained by the socioeconomic status of the teachers' own residential neighbourhoods. An independent association was found between low socioeconomic status of school neighbourhoods and heavy alcohol use among teachers.     

Educación para la salud en la escuela primaria: opinión del profesorado de la ciudad de Alicante

ObjectiveThis study explores the opinions of primary school teachers about health activities carried out in schools in Alicante city (Spain).MethodsAn exploratory study was conducted through qualitative content analysis. Three focus groups were conducted with 25 primary school teachers (14 women and 11 men) working in 14 public and 7 private schools in the city of Alicante. Participants were asked about the health activities carried on in their schools.ResultsTeachers distinguished between health education activities promoted by the school and those included in external programmes promoted by public and private institutions. External programmes were considered as impositions, lacking continuity and chosen according to passing fads. Although teachers demonstrated a more positive attitude towards activities arising from their own initiative, they identified health education as a secondary task. Teachers considered that improving their own health education training and promoting the involvement of parents, health professionals and public institutions were the most appropriate ways to promote health education in the school.ConclusionTeachers showed a more positive opinion and greater commitment towards health activities that complement and facilitate their teaching tasks. Their didactic programme and opinion should be taken into account to maximise the efficiency of the health promotion and education activities promoted by external organisations.     

A comprehensive "Healthy Schools Programme" to promote school health: the Hong Kong experience in joining the efforts of health and education sectors

Both health and education are linked to economic performance. The success of education depends on good health, and vice versa. Modern education should help young people to determine values, and accept responsibility for their health and social behaviour. The success of health promotion in schools requires the joint efforts of both the health and education sectors. A comprehensive programme is needed to include teachers' training, curriculum development, community participation, changing policies and practices, and research. All these components are needed to build up a successful model of a health promoting school. The "Healthy Schools Programme" in Hong Kong gives a good example of close partnership between the health and education sectors, and moves towards a multidisciplinary approach and active learning towards health promotion.     

Influence of school organizational characteristics on the outcomes of a school health promotion program

Researchers assessed the possible moderating effects of school organizational characteristics (school climate, school health, and job satisfaction) on outcomes of a teacher health behavior change program. Thirty-two public schools were matched and randomly assigned either to treatment or control conditions. Organizational, dietary, and physiologic data were collected from third to fifth grade teachers over three years. Treatment schools received a teacher wellness program for two years. Psychometrics of most organizational scales achieved acceptable levels of reliability. Mixed model analyses were conducted to test for moderating effects. Treatment schools with high organizational climate and health scores reported higher fruit and juice and vegetable consumption at Year 2 compared with intervention schools with low scores. Treatment schools with high job satisfaction scores reported higher fruit and juice and lower-fat food consumption at Year 3 compared with intervention schools with low scores. These measures may be used as a tool to assess the environment in which school health promotion programs are presented. Future interventions may need to be tailored to the organizational characteristics of schools.     

Dissemination and Use of a School-Based Nutrition Education Program For Secondary School Students

ABSTRACT: Program dissemination and implementation represent critical components of effective school-based health promotion interventions. This study examined the dissemination and implementation of a nutrition teaching program, Nutrition For Life, in New York State secondary schools. Some 1,312 health, home economics, and physical education teachers in junior and senior high schools provided information through random sample mail surveys. Logistic regression procedures examined teacher and school characteristics associated with receipt and use of the program. Overall, 50% of junior high school and 33% of senior high school teachers received the program and three-quarters of these teachers used it. At both levels, home economics teachers were more likely to receive and use the program than health teachers. Peer-led teacher training workshops organized through an existing community-based network provide an effective and efficient mechanism for disseminating nutrition teaching programs.     

2010—2015年深圳市宝安区某公立学校教学与生活环境卫生现状调查

目的 对2010—2015年深圳市某街道公立学校教学与生活环境卫生现状进行调查,为改善学校教学环境卫生提出一些依据。 方法 根据《中国卫生监督统计报表学校卫生情况年报表技术规范》《学校卫生监督综合评价》《学校卫生综合评价》中所制定的标准监测及评价学校教学与生活环境。 结果 卫生学指标不合格的有:前、后排教室间距、外环境对教室产生的噪声、黑板面照度、教室后墙反射比、黑板下缘与讲台地面的距离、课椅分配符合率和课桌分配符合率。 结论 当前深圳市某街道公立学校的学校卫生环境突出问题是前、后排教室间距、外环境对教室产生的噪声、黑板面照度、教室后墙反射比、黑板下缘与讲台地面距离等,这些问题会直接影响学生的生长发育,教育部门应该加大投入,努力为学生提供合格的教学与生活环境。     

上海市中小学校卫生保健教师专业素质及其发展状况评估

  目的  评估上海市中小学校卫生保健教师专业素质的自我觉察及其发展状况,为专业能力建设及未来的专业化发展提供依据。  方法  使用自主研制的学校卫生保健教师专业素质调研问卷,对上海市1 722名中小学一线卫生保健教师进行问卷调查。  结果  中小学卫生保健教师以本科学历(65.6%)、初级职称(43.4%)为主,专职教师占比66.5%,有69.8%的教师承担健康教育课程,7.7%排进正式课表;“师德修养”和“学校公共卫生防控”2个专业维度得分较高(4.68±0.43,4.55±0.47)分,学校健康教育所属2个专业维度(健康教育实施与改进、健康教育基本素养)得分最低且数据离散度较高[(3.96±0.66,3.91±0.65)分];卫生保健岗位工作年限6~14年组素质自评均值几乎在所有维度上略占优势;≥15年组素质得分在总体和师德修养、意外事件紧急处置2个维度上低于6~14年组,在特定健康问题应对维度上低于1~5年组(P值均 < 0.05)。  结论  中小学卫生保健教师入职门槛有待提高;教师的师德修养、学校公共卫生防控知识能力较好;健康教育知识能力整体储备不足,教师个体间出现明显分化。应制订卫生保健教师准入资格和专业标准,引领教师不断学习提升;同时从政策层面畅通卫生保健教师专业职务晋升途径。     

中小学校突发公共卫生事件应急处置能力调查

  目的  厘清中小学校应对突发公共卫生事件的应急处置能力现状,探讨存在的问题和主要困难,并提出针对性建议。  方法  2021年1—3月,采用分层整群抽样方法,以北京、重庆、云南三地的2 988所学校疫情相关工作负责人及教师为主要调查对象,开展关于学校一般情况、学校卫生及突发公共卫生事件相关知识、态度以及培训情况等内容的问卷调查。  结果  调查对象职务、职称、学历不同,各相关知识正确率不同:学历越高,相关知识正确率越高(χ2=50.73~203.36,P值均 < 0.05);高中学校定期开展健康相关课程情况最差(50.0%);配备具有执业资格的卫生保健人员情况,城区学校(42.0%)高于农村学校(18.2%),民办学校(48.5%)高于公办学校(24.7%);存在的主要困难是缺乏专业技术人员的指导和相关检测设备(84.91%,74.03%)。  结论  三地区学校突发公共卫生事件应急处置能力虽与时俱进,但仍存在诸多不足,知识掌握情况仍有疏漏,建议增加学校卫生工作岗前与专项培训, 疾控机构要加强对学校传染病管理技术指导和工作督导。     

Effect of school policy on tobacco use by school personnel in Bihar, India

This study examined the relationship between school tobacco policies and tobacco use prevalence among school personnel. Two subsets of schools were identified in Bihar, India: Federal Schools (with a tobacco policy), and State schools (without a tobacco policy). Stratified probability samples of 50 schools each were selected. The survey was conducted through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. School personnel from State Schools (non-policy schools) reported significantly higher daily cigarette smoking and daily current smokeless tobacco use compared to personnel in Federal schools (policy schools). Teachers in State schools did not teach about health consequences of tobacco, and they had not received training for such teaching. Extent of teaching about health consequences of tobacco varied across topics for teachers in Federal schools. They received negligible training, but more than 35% reported access to teaching materials. More than one-half the personnel from Federal schools knew about their school's policy prohibiting tobacco use among students and school personnel, and about policy enforcement. Personnel in State schools did not know about tobacco control policy in their schools. All school personnel in both types of schools were near unanimous in supporting policy prohibiting tobacco use in schools. The study demonstrated an association between enacting a school policy regarding tobacco use and school personnel's use of tobacco, curricular teaching, and practical training of students. Findings suggest that more extensive introduction of comprehensive school policies may help reduce tobacco use among school personnel.     

湖南省中小学校卫生保健能力现状及改善策略

目的 为分析湖南省中小学校卫生保健能力配置现状,改善中小学卫生保健能力提供依据。 方法 开展学校卫生保健能力建设问卷调查,利用学校卫生工作体系和能力建设调查工作数据采集平台直报数据,对湖南省中小学校卫生保健机构设立以及卫生保健人员配备现状进行分析。 结果 湖南省12 614所中小学校中,3 599所寄宿制学校和1 704所600人以上非寄宿制学校,至少需配备专职校医9 967名,实际仅898名,7 311所不足600人非寄宿制学校,专职保健老师仅197名;调查学校中7.3%设置了卫生室,29.6%设置了保健室;7.5%配备了校医,5.3%配备了专职校医,专职校医配备合格率为1.3%;45.6%配备了保健老师,6.6%配备了专职保健老师;90.0%开展了卫生健康相关课程;5.7%的校医和26.5%的保健老师参加过卫生专业技术培训;设置卫生室或保健室、配备(专职)保健老师、配备(专职)校医、开展卫生健康教育、保健老师或校医参加过学校卫生专业知识培训的学校比例,随学龄阶段的上升、经济水平的提高、学校规模的变大,呈逐渐增加趋势(均P<0.001)。 结论 湖南省中小学校卫生保健机构以及卫生保健人员缺口较大,小于600人的小学卫生保健力量需重视;保健老师和校医学校卫生专业知识培训不足;经济水平仍是影响学校卫生保健机构以及人员配置的关键因素之一。建议通过增加学校卫生工作经费投入,不断完善学校卫生保健机构建立,合理增配学校卫生保健人员,并通过卫生保健人员专业技术培训来提升中小学校卫生保健工作能力。     

Attitudes to teaching among teachers at a British medical school

Summary. A random sample of clinical teachers at a British medial school was surveyed by postal questionnaire to assess their attitudes to teaching and to teacher training. The response rate among the 186 teachers sampled was 80%. A high degree of enthusiasm for teaching was detected despite a perception that teaching received neither sufficient priority within the medical school nor due recognition within its reward structure. Feelings were mixed concerning the quality of training which graduates received. However, only 5% of teachers believed their own teaching ability to be below average. This survey revealed considerable support for the concept of training courses for medical teachers, though feelings were mixed as to whether such courses should be compulsory. These findings are discussed and related to recent initiatives to improve both the status of teaching within medical schools and the quality of medical education.     

Survey on public health nursing education-in the comparison of nursing education courses, universities, advanced courses for public health nurse with junior nursing colleges, and public health nursing school

PURPOSE: Changes in public health nursing education have been consideration. Theses changes include a dramatic increase in the number of public health nurses (PHNs) who have enrolled for nursing courses at university. This study was conducted to assess the current status and future of public health nursing education as perceived by teachers and students at three types of schools: universities offering nursing courses, advanced courses for PHNs with junior nursing colleges, and public health nursing schools. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to teachers and students by mail. The questions that were sent to teachers asked which subjects were required to become a certified PHN, which lecture methods were employed to teach public health-particularly community health assessment methods, and what was the level of awareness of the activities of PHNs. Students were asked about their motivation to be a PHN, their understanding of public health, their views of public health activities and their images of PHNs. RESULTS: Responses were analyzed and differences between questionnaires from different schools were noted. These included the number of subjects and the total number of hours spent doing practical training and field experience in universities and the other types of schools, and the number of teachers. Differences also were noted among students at three types of schools about their age, methods of public health activities, knowledge about activities undertaken by PHNs, and their images of PHNs. No differences were observed among the schools with respect to the students' conceptual understanding of public health. CONCLUSION: Student age, practical training and field experience were found to contribute to their level of understanding of public health and public health nursing. It is thus necessary to consider the teaching methods employed by universities that administer nursing courses and the effectiveness of courses offered by graduate schools.     

Integration of health into the school curriculum in Botucatu, São Paulo

This study focuses on the drafting and development of a public health program aimed at strategies to integrate health activities and the school curriculum. The program is based on three main lines of activity: full health care for schoolchildren, with special emphasis on the public school system; training of personnel in the fields of health and education by means of internships allowing participants to experience, work, and reflect critically on the activities with an interdisciplinary team; and work with teachers from the public elementary school system to implement and develop innovative measures in the fields of health and education to respond to the demand by schools and the community.     

The role of the schools of public health in the development of primary health care

Starting with the assumption that the schools of public health can and should be major promoters of primary health care but that they have not fully utilized their potential, the paper reviews the different interpretations of primary health care and their implications for the recruitment policies, educational objectives, teaching methods and research orientation of the schools. Four interpretations (primary health care as a set of activities; as a level of care; as a strategy of organizing health services; and as a philosophy permeating the entire health care system) are identified. It is suggested that most industrialized countries already have a primary medical care system which has to be transformed into primary health care. A blueprint for this transformation is outlined. Many of the changes included in the blueprint are related to the concept of primary health care as a strategy. Schools of public health can play a major role in implementing the necessary strategic changes and in training their implementers. The training of actual primary care providers for leadership; increased emphasis on management in the curricula; and reorientation of research towards primary health care are underlined as particularly important elements in the new role of the schools of public health.     

Challenges facing undergraduate public health education in medical education in Japan

Based on experience in teaching of public health in a newly established medical school in Japan, tasks which appear to be essential for the success of undergraduate public health education are presented, with special reference to 1) clarification of the teaching goals including general instructional objective (GIO), as well as specific behavioral objective (SBO), 2) utilization of the teaching resources in the community, such as community health centers, factories, schools, social welfare establishments for the elderly and/or for the handicapped, private clinics, and so on, 3) importance of continual curriculum evaluation by means of regular anonymous questionnaire. It is concluded that the perception of the teaching staffs with regard to these new tasks is very important. Changes in teaching objective since 1979 are presented, and 7 categories of GIO as well as 35 SBOs, both of which have been incorporated in the public health course in 1988 are also cited.     

Quality of life and burnout among public high school and primary school teachers in Southern Brazil

In order to investigate quality of life among public schoolteachers in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and work conditions, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 601 primary and secondary teachers from the State and Municipal public school system in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The study analyzed the following domains from the WHOQOL-BREF scale: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. The mean indices were: 69.2 (SD = 16.8) for physical health, 70.6 (SD = 14.0) for psychological health, 72.5 (SD = 17.3) for social relationships, and 60.7 (SD = 14.0) for environment. Age, time in the teaching career, and total number of students were not significantly associated with quality of life. Teachers in municipal schools scored higher than their counterparts in the State public schools in the physical health domain (p = 0.026). Men scored higher than women in the physical and psychological health domains. Higher family income was associated with better quality of life. Higher classroom workload was associated with better scores in the physical health and environment domains.     

Urban health educators' perspectives and practices regarding school nutrition education policies

Although nutrition-related health education policies exist at national, state and local levels, the degree to which those policies affect the everyday practices of health education teachers who are charged with executing them in schools is often unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the nutrition-related health education policy matrix that affected one urban school district, the health education teachers' awareness of those policies, the impact of nutrition policies on teachers' instruction and challenges teachers perceived in executing comprehensive nutrition education. The study used interpretive ethnography to examine the educational contexts and perspectives of 27 health educators from 24 middle schools in one urban district in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected through school observations, interviews with key personnel and document collection. We found that a network of nutrition-related education policies governed health education teachers' instruction, but that teachers were uniformly unaware of those policies. Without institutional coherence and clear directives, health education teachers taught little nutrition content, primarily due to poor training, professional development, instructional resources and administrative accountability. The results are discussed in light of the enormous challenges in many urban schools and the need for nutrition education professional development.     

昆山市流动人口子女学校教职工对突发公共卫生事件防控知识行为的调查

目的了解昆山市流动人口子女学校教职工预防控制学校突发公共卫生事件的知识及行为现状,为指导学校开展突发公共卫生事件预防控制工作提供科学依据。方法选择全部13所流动人口子女民办学校,采取分层随机抽样方法,各校抽取小学1～6年级班主任、任课老师及行政后勤人员20名,进行匿名自填问卷调查。结果 232名教职工学校突发公共卫生事件防控相关知识行为总正确率为75.8%。14道知识题中有关流行性腮腺炎、最易发生的食物中毒、突发公共卫生事件上报时限及第一责任人等4题正确率均低于50%,仅有2题高于90%;所调查10项防控行为,在指导接种疫苗、卫生防病知识宣传及新生入学预防接种证查验等3个方面正确率都低于80%。结论流动人口子女学校教职工突发公共卫生事件防控知识行为正确率较低,其知识水平亟待提高,预防控制行为需进一步提升。