The methodology of health education programs in schools—Qualitative study

• Published in: Atención primaria 2024-12, Vol.56 (12), p.103091, Article 103091
• Main Authors: Marković, Roberta, Ignjatović, Aleksandra, Višnjić, Aleksandar, Stojanović, Miodrag, Andjelković Apostolović, Marija, Otasević, Suzana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Escuelas; Evaluación; Evaluation; Focus Groups; Health Education - methods; Health education programs; Humans; Male; Methodology; Metodología; Original; Programas de educación en salud; Qualitative Research; School Health Services - organization & administration; Schools; Serbia
• ISSN: 0212-6567; 1578-1275; 1578-1275
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2024.103091

To assess strengths and weaknesses of the methodology of health education programs, carried out in the period 2010–2020, in schools in Serbia. Qualitative study, a thematic analysis approach. Representatives of Public Health institutions, Serbian biggest nongovernmental organization, Youth organization, Ministry of education and municipality. Nine professionals working in the field of Public Health and Health education. Focus group gathered nine health and non-health professionals in 2022 year. Focus group was recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed by three research team members. A coding template evolved through the analysis, providing the expansion of key concepts. Themes were, one by one, extracted, encoded, classified as the smallest units and interpretive, thematic analysis was applied. Although the Focus group in our study identified among other advantages, support of Health sector to Educational sector as crucial, it emphasized as well following weaknesses: Analyzed health education programs were implemented insufficiently as a separate process in schools, did not have the image of programs shared and integrated into community; Health education needs of schoolchildren, parents, and teachers should be examined prior the education implementation; Well-educated interdisciplinary educators have to be strengthened and supported; Parents participation is necessity; Standards and good practice guidelines are needed, and those developed through Health Promoting Schools program could be practiced. It is necessary to support cross-curricular competence, where health education should be integrated into all school subjects, and should go far beyond the school, grow into a culture of community life, which will interconnect all stakeholders in strong Public Health network. Evaluar fortalezas y debilidades de la metodología de los programas de Educación para la Salud, implementada en el período desde 2010 hasta 2020 en las escuelas de Serbia. Estudio cualitativo, enfoque de análisis temático. Representantes de instituciones de salud pública, la organización no gubernamental más grande de Serbia, organización juvenil, municipio y Ministerio de Educación. Nueve profesionales que trabajan en el campo de la Salud Pública y la Educación de la Salud. El grupo focal reunió a 9 profesionales sanitarios y no sanitarios en 2022. El grupo focal fue grabado, transcrito palabra por palabra, codificado y analizado por 3 miembros del equipo de investigación. Una plan