Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/y54jofpdkm
Attitudes and Satisfaction of Secondary-school Students in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County regarding the Introduction of Health Education in Schools
Nicole Vitez
; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Professional Study Programme in Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
Zrinka Puharić
; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Professional Study Programme in Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
Tatjana Badrov
; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Professional Study Programme in Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
Ivana Jurković
; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Professional Study Programme in Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
Ksenija Matuš
; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Professional Study Programme in Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: In the recent years, health education has been one of the most pressing topics in the field of education. It was introduced in primary and secondary schools in 2012 through four modules: Healthy Living; Prevention of Addiction; Prevention of Violent Behaviour; Gender Equality and Responsible Sexual Behaviour. Subjects and Methods: By carrying out a specially constructed anonymous questionnaire, attitudes and satisfaction of secondary-school students regarding the introduction of health education have been examined. The research was conducted following the Ethics Committee’s approval of all schools and obtaining written approval from parents of students under the age of 18. Results: 304 (215 female and 89 male) students from Medical High School, Trade and Commercial School, Tourism and Hospitality School, and Bjelovar Grammar School participated in the study. The average age of the students is 17.02 years. Most students have very good school achievement. The majority of them (268) live with their parents (94.1%), while approximately equal numbers live in urban and rural areas. Parents mostly have a high school degree. On Likert’s scale 1-5, they have rated the need for introducing health education to schools with 3.73; while the module itself has been rated with 3.76. The module Healthy Living has been rated with 3.68; Prevention of Violent Behaviour with 3.68; Prevention of Addiction with 3.73; and Gender Equality and Responsible Sexual Behaviour with 3.77. They generally agree that the topics should be taught by health care professionals (3.57). The students have rated the need for introducing health education in schools with 2.45; however, the need for it becoming a graded subject has been rated with 1.75. Conclusion: Health education is an important factor in preventing risky behaviour among young people, as well as in developing attitudes and a healthy lifestyle. The introduction and content thereof have been rather well rated, yet students do not want any additional workload in the form of a school subject and grading.
Keywords
health education; curriculum; attitudes; risky behaviour; sexuality
Hrčak ID:
208111
URI
Publication date:
22.10.2018.
Visits: 2.427 *