As practitioners dedicated to improving the health and educational outcomes of children, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest research and tools available. The study titled "Validity and reliability of the South African health promoting schools monitoring questionnaire" by Struthers et al. (2017) provides valuable insights into evaluating health-promoting schools (HPS). This blog will discuss how the findings can be applied to enhance our practice and encourage further research in this area.
Understanding the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire
The HPS Monitoring Questionnaire was developed to assess students' opinions about their schools as health-promoting environments. It comprises 138 questions across seven sections: socio-demographic information, general health promotion programs, health-related skills and knowledge, policies, environment, community-school links, and support services. The study aimed to evaluate the questionnaire's face validity and reliability through expert reviews and a test-retest study with students.
Key Findings
The study found that the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire has satisfactory face validity, with experts agreeing that it accurately measures the health-promoting framework of schools. However, the reliability results were mixed:
- General and Environment sections showed fair to moderate agreement.
- Skills and Community sections demonstrated poor agreement.
- Policies and Services sections showed fair agreement.
Implications for Practice
Despite the mixed reliability results, the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire offers a starting point for evaluating health-promoting schools. Here are some ways practitioners can use these findings to improve their practice:
- Utilize the Questionnaire: Implement the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire to gather students' opinions on health promotion activities. This data can help identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Focus on Reliable Sections: Pay particular attention to the sections with higher reliability, such as Policies and Services, to guide initial interventions.
- Refine the Tool: Collaborate with researchers to refine the questionnaire items with poor agreement, ensuring they are clear and relevant to students.
Encouraging Further Research
The study highlights the need for further research to enhance the validity and reliability of the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire. Practitioners can contribute by:
- Participating in Studies: Engage in research studies that aim to validate and refine the questionnaire.
- Sharing Feedback: Provide feedback on the questionnaire's usability and effectiveness in different school contexts.
- Advocating for Research: Advocate for more research funding and support to develop robust tools for evaluating health-promoting schools.
By implementing the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire and contributing to further research, practitioners can play a pivotal role in creating healthier school environments that promote the well-being and educational success of students.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Validity and reliability of the South African health promoting schools monitoring questionnaire.
