Developing teenagers’ views on their health and the health of their future children

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to report the outcome of a city-wide survey of teenagers' views on their health, and compare this with the outcomes of a science-oriented health intervention called LifeLab, a hospital-based classroom aimed at developing teenagers' attitudes towards their health and that of their future children. Design/methodology/approach -A questionnaire survey of 597 14-year olds across the city of Southampton was conducted to gauge their views and behaviour in relation to their own health. The views of 37 students who took part in innovative, hospital-based, hands-on LifeLab activities were compared with those of their peers six months after the intervention to analyse long-term impacts of the experience. Interviews were carried out with ten LifeLab students to gain further insights. Findings -The intervention created a wider appreciation among students that food they eat now could affect their long-term health and the health of their future children. Students became significantly more interested in studying science beyond compulsory schooling, and in considering science and healthcare career options. Research limitations/implications -Although results were statistically significant, the intervention sample was quite small, and further data collection is ongoing. The city-wide student response rate of 29 per cent was fairly low. Social implications -This study has shown that a carefully structured hospital-based classroom visit, and associated science lessons can have a marked effect on student engagement with healthrelated issues, and an impact on their consideration of their career choices. Originality/value -The hospital-based classroom is an innovative approach to improving teenagers' knowledge and attitudes towards their health. The paper's findings should be of interest to a range of educational stakeholders including teachers, local education authorities and local politicians concerned with health education matters.

LifeLab Southampton: a programme to engage adolescents with DOHaD concepts as a tool for increasing health literacy in teenagers –a pilot cluster-randomized control trial

“…These considerations led us to develop LifeLab, an innovative 'hands-on' science-based approach aiming to promote health literacy through science engagement and literacy. 17 The theme of LifeLab is 'Me, My Health & My Children's Health'. Feasibility work showed that participation in a science programme focusing on health, and experiencing learning within a hospital-based classroom had a positive influence on teenagers' awareness of the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices.…”

“…Feasibility work showed that participation in a science programme focusing on health, and experiencing learning within a hospital-based classroom had a positive influence on teenagers' awareness of the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. 17 We present data from a pilot, cluster-randomized study, conducted prior to a large cluster-randomized control trial. Our primary objective was to measure, at an individual participant level, the effects of the LifeLab intervention at 12-month followup.…”

Meet the Scientist: The Value of Short Interactions Between Scientists and Students

“…The LifeLab project aims to engage 11 -16-year-old students with the science behind chronic diseases and enable them to discover first hand, how their diets and lifestyles lay the foundations for a healthier life, and how their own health is linked to the health of the children they may have in the future (Grace et al, 2012(Grace et al, , 2013. The LifeLab programme involves a professional development day for science teachers, a scheme of work incorporating lesson plans and resources for 10 school-based lessons and a 'hands-on' practical day in an out-of-school context.…”

Delivering an action agenda for nutrition interventions addressing adolescent girls and young women: priorities for implementation and research

“…There is evidence that training appropriate cadres of health workers and educating them in the nutritional requirements of the mother and the newborn can lead to improvements in key practices during pregnancy and childbirth, including diet during pregnancy, uptake of antenatal care, and breastfeeding practices . The role of youth organizations should be to work in an integrated manner on issues of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, newborns, and family health in general . Given that these programs and community health worker platforms are being increasingly used to reach marginalized populations and address inequities, we strongly recommend using these existing platforms to facilitate the integration and inclusion of nutrition‐related packages into activities specific to that age group.…”

“…51 The role of youth organizations should be to work in an integrated manner on issues of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, newborns, and family health in general. 53 Given that these programs and community health worker platforms are being increasingly used to reach marginalized populations and address inequities, we strongly recommend using these existing platforms to facilitate the integration and inclusion of nutrition-related packages into activities specific to that age group.…”