Creation of a Pilot School Health Research Network in an English Education Infrastructure to Improve Adolescent Health and Well-Being

A Study Protocol

Bibliographic Data

ID15512125
AuthorsCatherine Sharp (0000-0002-7311-3933, University of Bristol), Emily Widnall (0000-0002-7107-562X, University of Bristol, corresponding author), Patricia N Albers (0000-0001-5710-8483, University of Bristol), Kate Willis (0000-0002-8998-6691, University of Bristol), Colin Capner (0000-0001-7179-3755, University of Bristol), Judi Kidger (0000-0002-1054-6758, University of Bristol), Frank De Vocht (0000-0003-3631-627X, University of Bristol), Eileen Kaner (0000-0002-7169-9344, Newcastle University), Esther M F Van Sluijs (MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SL, UK), Esther Van Sluijs (0000-0001-9141-9082, University of Cambridge), Hannah Fairbrother (0000-0001-9347-8625, University of Sheffield), Russell Jago (0000-0002-3394-0176, University of Bristol), Rona Campbell (0000-0002-1099-9319, University of Bristol)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue20
Pages13711-13711
Publication date2022-10-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192013711
PMID36294290
OpenAlexW4307552319
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited26

Schools play a significant role in promoting health and well-being and the reciprocal links between health and educational attainment are well-evidenced. Despite recognition of the beneficial impact of school-based health improvement programmes, significant barriers to improving health and well-being within schools remain. This study pilots a School Health Research Network in the South West of England (SW-SHRN), a systems-based health intervention bringing together schools, academic health researchers and public health and/or education teams in local authorities to share knowledge and expertise to improve the health and well-being of young people. A maximum of 20 secondary schools will be recruited to the pilot SW-SHRN. All students in Years 8 (age 12-13) and 10 (age 14-15) will be invited to complete a health and well-being questionnaire, generating a cohort of approximately 5000 adolescents. School environment questionnaires will also be completed with each school to build a regional picture of existing school health policies and programmes. Each school will be provided with a report summarising data for their students benchmarked against data for all schools in the network. Quantitative analysis will model associations between health risk behaviours and mental health outcomes and a qualitative process evaluation will explore the feasibility and sustainability of the network. This study will create adolescent health data to help provide schools and local authorities with timely and robust information on the health and well-being of their students and help them to identify areas in which public health interventions may be required. SW-SHRN will also help public health professionals focus their resources in the areas most at need

Adolescent health · Alternative medicine · Medical education · Protocol (science · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education