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Learning Objective 1: • to identify teenagers’ risk behaviours
Learning Objective 2: • to define risk factors, to assess teenagers’ health condition perception and to develop health promotion program
The idea that lifestyles adopted by children and teenagers may be decisive in future behaviors. The relevance of nurses’ role as privileged actor on the prevention of disease, health promotion and assessment of needs in health, motivated the development of this research project.
Growing Up Healthily can be seen as a program based on the assumption that improved knowledge will affect behavior.
METHODOLOGY
A longitudinal study of research-action is developed in 2 schools from Coimbra/Portugal at children/adolescents from 10-17 years. It is conducted by nurses-researchers and nursing students from University School of Nursing. Intervention 2006-2010.
First Sample (1st collection data in 2005) - All teenagers who were in the 2 schools from 5th to 9th grade in the year 2005-2006 (n=216).
Second Sample (2st collection data in 2010) - All the teenagers, which were in the health promotion program, attending the 9th grade in 2009-2010.
The data collection was made through a questionnaire of the Health Behavior at School age Children from WHO and through evaluation of biological parameters: capillary blood glucose, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary results showed us wrong eating habits and sedentary leisure habits.
We developed educational, recreational and interactive activities - training sessions, competitions, pedy-papper - aimed at increasing the knowledge and acquirement of skills to promote health and prevent harmful consequences for their welfare at physical, psychological and social spheres. Certain behaviors are initiated during the adolescent years, while others, can be established ever in early childhood. Given this, research into young peoples’ health and health behaviors is essential for the development of evidence-based policy and practice. It is clear that health promotion programs in childhood should focus on food habits and obesity, addict behaviors and physical activities and, yet, that this interventions should be school-based.
See more of: World Academy of Nursing Science: Oral Paper & Posters