A pilot controlled evaluation of a primary school-based health education intervention: Facts4Life

Bird, Emma; Oliver, Billie; Powell, Jane

Abstract

Aim: This pilot controlled evaluation aimed to explore the effects of a primary school-based health education intervention, Facts4Life, on changes in children’s health and illness-related attitudes.
Background: Evidence suggests that attitudes and behaviours established during childhood may continue on into adulthood and as such, it is important to promote health from an early age.
Methodology?Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 10 schools in Gloucestershire. Five schools received Facts4Life and 5 schools were allocated to the control group. The intervention was delivered by teachers during the Spring term 2015 (January – March). Children completed measures of health and illness-related attitudes approximately one week prior to the intervention period and again after the intervention period had ended. Mixed analysis of variance (MANOVA) models were used to identify any changes in outcome measures in the intervention and control groups from baseline to follow-up.
Results: 324 children completed baseline measures, with 295 (91% retention rate) completing measures at post-intervention. Children in the intervention group reported significant improvements from baseline to post-intervention responses to “When I feel unwell I need to take medicine to feel better” (p = 0.01, d = 0.54) and “When I am ill, I always need to see a doctor” (p = 0.01, d = 0.39). Children in the control group reported significant improvements from baseline to post-intervention response to “When I am ill, I always need to see a doctor” (p = 0.04, d = 0.21). Neither the intervention or control group showed changes from baseline to post-intervention on any other outcome variables.
Conclusions: Facts4Life is a promising intervention in that exposure was associated with significant changes in certain specific health and illness-related attitudes targeted by the intervention. Future, large scale studies should explore the effects of Facts4Life on health and illness-related attitudes and subsequent behaviour change over time.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: South West Public Health Scientific Conference
• Start Date: Mar 16, 2016
• End Date: Mar 16, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Dec 21, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Facts4Life
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/916958
• Publisher URL: http://publichealth.severndeanery.nhs.uk/training/event-info/scientific-conference-2016-programme/plenary-and-parallel-session-abstracts-2016?stage=Stage
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : South West Public Health Scientific Conference