Implementation of PATHS Through Dutch Municipal Health Services: A Quasi-Experiment

Only a limited number of effectiveness studies have been performed to study the benefits of efficacious behavior problems prevention programs for children when implemented through national health service systems. This study uses a quasi-experimental design to test the effectiveness of the school-based PATHS prevention program (Providing Alternative THinking Strategies) when implemented through Dutch municipal health services by health promotion professionals. A sample of 1,294 children was followed for two years: 674 children attending nine schools providing PATHS and 620 children in nine comparison schools. We hypothesized finding an intervention effect of PATHS in terms of a significant reduction in teacher- and student-rated externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors, and a significant improvement in teacher-, student-, and peer-rated social skills and emotional skills. In fact, the results show low levels of program implementation and no intervention effects on problem behavior or social and emotional skills, suggesting that it is hard to reproduce positive intervention effects where an efficacious social-emotional prevention program is implemented through a national health service. More research is needed on the specific conditions required to implement efficacious programs effectively

Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schools are regarded as an important setting for the prevention of overweight. This study presents a nationally representative picture of the obesogenity of the school environment, the awareness of schools regarding overweight, and actions taken by the schools aiming at overweight prevention. In addition, differences between school levels were studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2006-2007, questionnaires were sent to all Dutch secondary schools (age group 12-18 years). Prevalences of the outcome variables were calculated for the schools in total and by school level. The association between school level and outcome variables were analysed by a log linear regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unhealthy foods and drinks are widely available at secondary schools. One third of the schools indicated that overweight has increased among students and half of the schools agreed that schools were (co)responsible for the prevention of overweight. Only 3% of the schools have a policy on overweight prevention. Small differences were observed between vocational education schools and higher education schools. The presence of vending machines did not differ by school level, but at vocational education schools, the content of the vending machines was less healthy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study describes the current situation at schools which is essential for the development and evaluation of future overweight prevention policies and interventions. In general, secondary schools are not actively involved in overweight prevention and the nutritional environment at most schools could be improved. The small differences between school levels do not give reason for a differential approach for a certain school level for overweight prevention.</p

Reptes sobre la promoció de la salut als instituts

Conferència a càrrec de Goof Buijs, consultor de la xarxa europea SHE (School for Health in Europe) sobre els reptes de la promoció de la salut als Instituts d'Educació de Sequndàri

Reptes sobre la promoció de la salut als instituts

Conferència a càrrec de Goof Buijs, consultor de la xarxa europea SHE (School for Health in Europe) sobre els reptes de la promoció de la salut als Instituts d'Educació de Sequndàri

Converses amb Goof Buijs i Mikel Echeita, membres de la xarxa SHE

Converses amb Goof Buijs, consultor de la xarxa europea SHE, i Mikel Echeita, coordinador regional a Cantàbria per SH

Health Promoting Schools - a complex approach and a major means to health improvement

International audienc

Zero Water Day : seizing the opportunity from a public health perspective

Water is a finite natural resource. Zero Water Day(s) scenarios are challenging people and communities in Europe and worldwide. The public health community must seize the opportunity to prepare for Zero Water Day(s) through strengthening capacity and capability to respond to rapidly emerging emergencies as well as protected crises. Collaboration across sectors on water conservation and public health is key to tackling the consumptive environment and extractive economic systems

Effects of transfer-oriented curriculum on multiple behaviors in the Netherlands

Many school health promotion curricula address a single health behavior, without paying attention to potential learning effects in associated behavioral domains. We developed an innovative curriculum about smoking and safe sex that also focused on promoting students' transfer of knowledge, skills and attitudes to other domains. In a quasi-experimental study involving 1107 students (Grades 7 and 8) in the Netherlands, the curriculum was compared with regular lessons about smoking and safe sex. The central research questions were to what extent the transfer-oriented curriculum: (i) had effects on psychosocial determinants and behaviors in the domains of smoking and safe sex, (ii) had effects on determinants and behaviors in three domains about which no lessons were taught (consumption of alcohol, fruit and breakfast). Multi-level analyses showed that the answer to both questions is positive. The results indicate that a transfer approach may have surplus value over the classic domain-specific approach and warrant further elaboration in the future