Scheduled for Research Coordinating Board Poster Session I, Thursday, March 15, 2007, 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Area II


Perspectives on Health Issues: The Views of 9-13 Year Olds

Stephen L. Brown, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Carbondale, IL and David A. Birch, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL

KidsHealth KidsPoll is a quarterly survey designed to identify the perspectives of children ages 9-13 on current health issues. Each survey addressed a different health issue. The purpose of the project is to provide a voice on health issues for children in this age range. The twelve health issues addressed during the first three years of the project include bullying, obesity, alcohol use, worries, health literacy, tobacco, nutrition, coping, sleep, communication with parents, business, and school support. The data for each survey were collected from all respondents when the children's school classes attended structured programs at health education centers. All centers were members of the National Association of Health Education Centers. Data were collected from children using remote, individual hand-held keypads (Audience Response Computer Systems). Each survey consisted of 10 close-end questions. An advisory committee including topic experts was used in the development of each instrument. Staff at each center administered the surveys at the beginning or end of a health education program on an unrelated topic. Numbers of respondents and the states represented varied for each survey (approximately 800-1200 children representing 7-12 states per survey). A summary of the three year findings will be presented along with related recommendations for school health programs and future research. In addition, recommendations will be presented that address the use of hand-held keypads for data collection.
Keyword(s): elementary issues, health education K-12, middle school issues

Back to the 2007 AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition (March 13 -- 17, 2007)