The effect of health education on knowledge and behavior toward respiratory infectious diseases among students in Gansu, China: a quasi-natural experiment

Sustaining Healthy Habits: The Enduring Impact of Combined School-Family Interventions on Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Pilot Chinese Schoolchildren

This study assesses the enduring impact of combined school- and family-based interventions on reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among schoolchildren in China. Two primary schools were assigned at random to either the Intervention Group or the Control Group, in Nanjing, eastern China. All students were in grade three and received an invitation to participate. In the first year, students in the Intervention Group received one-year intervention measures, including monthly monitoring, aiming to decrease the consumption of SSBs. Students in the Control Group only received regular monitoring without interventions. In the second year, both groups received only regular monitoring, without active interventions. A generalized estimating equations model (GEE) was used to assess the intervention effects. After two years, relative to the Control Group, the Intervention Group had a significantly improved knowledge of SSBs and an improved family environment with parents. In the Intervention Group, 477 students (97.3%) had adequate knowledge about SSBs, compared to 302 students (83.2%) in the Control Group (X2 = 52.708, p < 0.001). Two years later, the number of students who stated 'my home always has SSBs' in the Intervention Group (7.8%) was fewer than that in the Control Group (12.4%), which was a statistically significant finding (p < 0.05). One year later, both the frequency and the quantity of SSB consumption in the Intervention Group were less than those in the Control Group; such differences between the groups remained statistically significant for the quantity but not for the frequency of SSB consumption two years later. In the Intervention Group, the frequency of SSB consumption was significantly reduced by 1.0 times per week, compared to a reduction of 0.1 times per week in the Control Group in the first year (p < 0.05). In the second year, the frequency of SSB consumption was reduced by 0.8 times per week in the Intervention Group, compared to 0.5 times per week in the Control Group (p > 0.05). In the first year, the volume of SSB consumption was significantly reduced by 233 mL per week in the Intervention Group, compared to an increase of 107 mL per week in the Control Group (p < 0.05). In the second year, the volume of SSB consumption was reduced by 122 mL per week in the Intervention Group compared to an increase of 31 mL per week in the Control Group (p > 0.05). The combined school-based and family-based interventions had a positive effect on the students' knowledge of SSBs and their family dynamics during the first and second year. Relative to the Control Group, the Intervention Group had a statistically significant reduction in SSB consumption after 1 year, but not after 2 years.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Parents Regarding Neonatal Jaundice in Bisha City, Saudi Arabia

Background Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is one of the most common neonatal illnesses around the world. It continues to be a leading cause of avoidable brain damage, physical and mental impairment, and death in neonates. Neonatal morbidity due to NNJ has a significant impact and cost on families and healthcare resources. The majority of instances are addressed without intervention, but others require assessment and assistance in the form of follow-up or treatment. Inadequate family awareness and understanding of this frequent newborn condition can contribute to delays and difficulties. Aim This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of parents regarding NNJ in Bisha City, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study involving 242 participants was carried out. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. The knowledge score differences between groups were analyzed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test and the Kruskal-Wallis rank test. Results In this study of 242 participants from Bisha, we found that the majority were female (155, 64.0%), employed (129, 53.3%), and held a postgraduate degree (150, 62.0%). Regarding knowledge of NNJ, 109 (45.0%) have correctly defined it as yellow pigmentation in the sclera and 64 (26.4%) as yellow pigmentation of the skin. Of most participants, 132 (54.5%) recognized that NNJ could cause complications, but 53 (40.2%) of these were unaware of what these complications might be. Notably, only 89 (36.8%) of respondents believed they had sufficient knowledge about NNJ. The median knowledge score was 3.0 (IQR, 1.0-4.0), and higher scores were significantly associated with being female and reporting sufficient knowledge about the disease. Strategies suggested for improving awareness included campaigns (98, 40.5%) and social networking programs (81, 33.5%). The data suggest a need for enhanced public education regarding NNJ. Conclusion The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education among parents in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, about NNJ. The findings suggest that campaigns and social networking programs could effectively educate people about the condition. Additionally, the study provides insights into the factors associated with higher knowledge scores, such as gender and having a child with NNJ. The results of this study may help healthcare professionals develop effective educational programs and interventions to improve parents' knowledge and attitudes toward NNJ.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about COVID-19 pandemic: a bibliometric analysis

Background

In order to avoid high rates of COVID-19 infection, one of the main tasks that must be performed is to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about the virus. In this sense, Health Education is an essential tool for dealing with the virus. The aim of health education is to educate individuals through educational, motivational, skill development, and awareness techniques, and an understanding of the main needs of KAP is essential for this. Many KAP studies were published during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aim of the present study was to analyze these publications through a bibliometric study.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis of the publications on KAP and COVID-19 was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database. The RStudio Bibliometrix and VOSviewer packages were utilized to analyze the scientific production, authors, citations, countries, publishers, journals, research areas, and keywords.

Results

Of the 1,129 articles published, 777 were included in the study. The year with the most publications and citations was 2021. Three authors were underlined (all from Ethiopia), due to the number of articles published, the number of citations, and the collaboration networks established. As for the countries, most of the publications came from Saudi Arabia, while China obtained the most citations. PLOS One and Frontiers in Public Health published the most articles on the subject. The most frequent keywords were knowledge, attitudes, practices, and COVID-19. At the same time, others were identified based on the population group analyzed.

Conclusion

This is the first bibliometric study on KAP and COVID-19. The significant number of publications identified on KAP and its relationship to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the span of only 3 years, indicates the increased interest in this area. The study provides relevant information to researchers who are approaching this subject for the first time. It is a useful tool that can stimulate new studies and collaborations between researchers from different countries, areas and approaches. At the methodological level, a step-by-step guide is provided for future authors who wish to perform a bibliometric analysis.

Assessment of the implementation of health education in primary health care facilities, Kavango, East Region, Namibia

Background

Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities are critical in preventing, detecting, and managing sickness and injury, thereby lowering morbidity and mortality. This is easily accomplished through health education, which is one of the most effective disease prevention methods.

Objective

The goal of this study is to evaluate the implementation of the health education technique in PHC facilities in the Kavango East Region.

Materials and Methods

A quantitative method was used in conjunction with a descriptive cross-sectional design to evaluate the implementation of health education in PHC facilities in the Kavango East Region.

Results

The outcomes show that 76% of patients who visit health facilities did not receive health education about their condition, and those who did receive health education know six times more about how to prevent the conditions they are suffering from than those who did not. The study also found that 49.14% of patients got information that was irrelevant to their conditions. These results indicate a statistically significant relationship (2.32 OR 0.93 at 95% CI) between patients who did not receive health education and frequent visits to the PHC facility with the same complaints.

Conclusion

There is a lack of health education implementation in PHC facilities, with patients not getting or being provided with relevant health education to empower them to take care of their own health. The emphasis of PHC centers is on curative services rather than preventative and rehabilitation services. PHC facilities must improve health education as a critical approach to health promotion and disease prevention. This will allow patients to take appropriate preventive measures, resulting in fewer trips to PHC facilities.

The role of e-health on the public knowledge and behavior in preventing COVID-19

Background

Electronic health (e-health) technologies play an important role in improving public knowledge and behavior to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the role of e-health on the public knowledge and behavior in preventing COVID-19 in Kerman, a city in Iran.

Methods

The present descriptive cross-sectional study used an online survey in Kerman in November 2021. The research instrument was a tripartite questionnaire that included demographic information, the level of respondents' knowledge about COVID-19, the extent of change in respondents' behavior influenced by e-health. Negative binomial regression analysis was run to test the relationship between individual characteristics and the research variables with knowledge and behavior. Spearman correlation test was used to measure the correlation between the two main parts of the survey.

Results

As the negative binomial regression analysis results showed, the relationship between no demographic variable and the public knowledge and behavior was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean knowledge and behavior scores were 5.84 ± 2.55 and 11.95 ± 5.09, respectively, showing that people who used e-health had a high level of knowledge, and taking preventive measures was at a high level. The Spearman correlation coefficient test results showed a positive association between knowledge and behavior (r = 0.71).

Conclusion

E-health played a decisive role in increasing knowledge and improving behavior in preventing COVID-19. The results of our research can encourage the use of e-health to improve the public knowledge and behavior in pandemics such as COVID-19.

Impact of educational interventions on the prevention of influenza: A systematic review

Introduction

Seasonal influenza, a contagious viral disease affecting the upper respiratory tract, circulates annually, causing considerable morbidity and mortality. The present study investigates the effectiveness of educational interventions to prevent influenza.

Methods

We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) for relevant clinical studies up to March 1 2022. The following terms were used: "influenza," "flu," "respiratory infection," "prevent," "intervention," and "education."

Results

Out of 255 studies, 21 articles satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in our study: 13 parallel randomized controlled trials (RCT) studies, two cross-over RCT studies, two cohort studies, and four quasi-experimental studies. A total of approximately 12,500 adults (18 years old or above) and 11,000 children were evaluated. Educational sessions and reminders were the most common interventions. The measured outcomes were vaccination rates, the incidence of respiratory tract infection (RTI), and preventive behaviors among participants. Eighteen out of 21 articles showed a significant association between educational interventions and the outcomes.

Conclusions

The included studies in the current systematic review reported the efficacy of health promotion educational interventions in improving knowledge about influenza, influenza prevention behaviors, vaccination rates, and decreased RTI incidence regardless of the type of intervention and the age of cases.

Application Value of Health Education Combined with Aerobic Exercise in Nursing of Patients with Mastitis Found in Physical Examination

Objective

To explore the application value of health education combined with aerobic exercise in patients with mastitis found in physical examination.

Methods

The clinical data of 100 patients with mastitis who underwent physical examination in the physical examination center of our hospital from October 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the order of physical examination, they were equally split into experimental group and control group. The control group received the routine clinical intervention, while the experimental group received health education combined with aerobic exercise to evaluate the clinical effects of different intervention modes on patients with mastitis.

Results

Compared with the control group, the experimental group after intervention achieved notably higher scores of CD-RISC, self-management ability, and mastitis-related knowledge (P < 0.001), lower scores of breast pain, skin color, and local mass diameter (P < 0.001), and a higher SF-36 score (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The clinical intervention combining health education with aerobic exercise in patients with mastitis found in the physical examination is an effective method to improve their mood state and self-management ability, and further research will help provide a good solution for such patients.

The Effect of Education Using Snakes and Ladders Board Game on Healthy Snacks Selection of Elementary School Students

BACKGROUND: Primary school age is the stage where the child is in a formal operational state, where the child is able to think and reason logically and draw conclusions from existing information.. AIM: This study determined the effect of education using snake and ladder media (ular tangga) on the selection of healthy snacks in an elementary school students. The effect see on students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The study used Quasi Experiment, One group pretest and posttest without control group. The research variables were knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of students towards the selection of healthy snacks. This research was conducted in March 2020 at an Elementary School in Makassar City, Indonesia. METHODS: The sampling method was simple random sampling with a sample size of 79 students. Data collection tools were using questionnaires and educational media for snakes and ladders. The analysis was carried out descriptively on each variable with an analysis of the frequency distribution and testing the differences before and after the intervention using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The result of this study showed that the mean of knowledge about health snack selection among student before education with ular tangga is 6.34 increasing to 7.18 after education with ular tangga. Mean of attitude about health snack selection among student before education with ular tangga is 53.92 increasing to 55.43 after education with ular tangga. Mean of behavior health snack selection among student before education with ular tangga is 9.35 increasing to 9.77 after education with ular tangga. Based on the Wilcoxon test, the p-value is obtained for each variable (p<0.05); knowledge (p=0.000), attitude (p=0.009), and behavior (p=0.001). CONCLUSION:  Education using snake and ladder media has an influence on the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Elementary School students.   Key words: Education, snake and ladder media, healthy snacks, elementary school students, Indonesia.    

Effect of health screening and School Nurse Interventions on primary school students' knowledge, behavior, and status in Turkey: A quasi-experimental Omaha System study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the effect of health screening and school nurse interventions using a community-based, comprehensive practice and documentation system to improve knowledge, behavior, and status scores of primary school students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A quasi-experimental study design with pretest and posttest of a single group was used. The research was conducted between November 2017 and January 2018 with 473 students at a primary school in southern Turkey. Health screening procedures and the Omaha System were used to identify health problems. Evidence-based school nurse interventions were implemented. The outcomes, including knowledge, behaviors, and status scores, were measured using the Problem Rating Scale for Outcomes. The scores were evaluated at the baseline and at the end of 10 weeks.

RESULTS

Students' health problems, such as inadequate vision, hypertension, obesity, and second-hand smoke, were identified during the health screening. None of the students was neglected or abused. The most common health problems concerned Oral health, Neuro-musculo-skeletal function, Nutrition, and Vision. The intervention categories included Teaching, Guidance, and Counseling (58.1%); Case Management (20.9%); Surveillance (17.8%); and Treatment and Procedures (3.2%). A significant increase in Knowledge, Behavior, and Status scores was noted after interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that health screening was effective in detecting school-age children's health problems. Knowledge, behavior, and status of primary students improved after school nurse interventions.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

School nurses can use health screening and evidence-based interventions to protect and improve children's health. The Omaha System enables robust documentation to demonstrate outcomes after interventions.