Vol 16, No 5 (2012)
Original paper
Published online: 2013-03-22
Children’s Education Program on Prevention of Hypertension and Blood Pressure Measurement — SOPKARD Junior Project
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2012;16(5):305-309.
Abstract
Background Arterial hypertension (AH) is the main cause
of cardiovascular diseases in Poland and all over the world.
That is why education on health supporting and prophylactic
activities concerning AH should be implemented as
soon as possible. According to the program of Ministry of
National Education (MEN) these activities should be
started in primary schools.
The aim of the project was to evaluate knowledge of children
in class V and VI and to elaborate health supporting
multimedia and interactive workshops for primary school
children.
Material and methods Seventy four (74) children aged
11–12 years have been included in the study. Their knowledge
has been tested in relation to the program of MEN.
The studied children took part in the educational workshops composed of six lesson modules in subgroups of 5–6
persons. Finally monitoring of the educational effects has
been performed. Well trained children also did measure
arterial blood pressure of their parents during school–parents
meetings.
Results In the test performed before the workshops a mean
result was equal to 65% of good answers, about 30% of
children answered correctly in less than 50% of questions.
The test performed after the workshops showed 90% of
correct answers; the worst result was 82%. Among the examined
parents and school employees 22% of them had
newly detected increased blood pressure.
Conclusions
1. Health supporting knowledge among primary school children
is unsatisfactory in relation to the program of MEN.
2. Children readily and actively participate in the multimedia
interactive educational workshops on health supporting
and prophylactic activities concerning AH. Monitoring
of the effects of such workshops showed increased
knowledge and answers concerning issues of AH including
ability of arterial blood pressure measurement.
of cardiovascular diseases in Poland and all over the world.
That is why education on health supporting and prophylactic
activities concerning AH should be implemented as
soon as possible. According to the program of Ministry of
National Education (MEN) these activities should be
started in primary schools.
The aim of the project was to evaluate knowledge of children
in class V and VI and to elaborate health supporting
multimedia and interactive workshops for primary school
children.
Material and methods Seventy four (74) children aged
11–12 years have been included in the study. Their knowledge
has been tested in relation to the program of MEN.
The studied children took part in the educational workshops composed of six lesson modules in subgroups of 5–6
persons. Finally monitoring of the educational effects has
been performed. Well trained children also did measure
arterial blood pressure of their parents during school–parents
meetings.
Results In the test performed before the workshops a mean
result was equal to 65% of good answers, about 30% of
children answered correctly in less than 50% of questions.
The test performed after the workshops showed 90% of
correct answers; the worst result was 82%. Among the examined
parents and school employees 22% of them had
newly detected increased blood pressure.
Conclusions
1. Health supporting knowledge among primary school children
is unsatisfactory in relation to the program of MEN.
2. Children readily and actively participate in the multimedia
interactive educational workshops on health supporting
and prophylactic activities concerning AH. Monitoring
of the effects of such workshops showed increased
knowledge and answers concerning issues of AH including
ability of arterial blood pressure measurement.
Keywords: hypertensionarterial blood pressure measurementhealth supporting activitieschildren educationprevention