1487-PUB: Fostering the Health Literacy of Younger Generations

Abstract

Prevention of the onset and the increase in severity of lifestyle-related diseases extends healthy life spans. It is important to start educating younger generations on basic life knowledge, disease and health literacy. This class was offered in both private and public elementary (ES) and junior high schools (JHS) from 2015. A questionnaire (Q) survey was conducted before and after the class. The effects of education and future challenges were discussed. Qs were distributed to 727 students, consisting of 4th to 6th graders in 5 public ES and 3rd graders in JHS. The Qs were collected from 727 students before class and 715 students after class. 7submitted responses both before and after the class. A paired analysis was performed on these responses. Those who answered “I don’t eat breakfast” was less than 5% in both ES and JHS, while those who answered “sweet bread (including cakes) ” was about 30% in both ES and JHS. Those who were able to accurately list the three major nutrients carbohydrate, protein and fat, essential in larger amounts for growth and body’s basic function, improved from 5% (before class) to 71.2% (after class) in ES students and to 86.4% in JHS students. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed no significant difference in improvement of the correct answers from pre- to post-class between 4th-grade students and 6th-grade students, nor between ES students and JHS. There were significant differences between different ES. Significantly more JHS than ES students (P<0.01) and more female than male students (P<0.01) answered that they had questions. There were many erroneous answers regarding calcium and vitamins. There were students even in the 3rd grade of JHS who lacked a proper understanding of the three major nutrients. They confused them with others. A better understanding of diseases and the three major nutrients can be gained from the 4th grade of ES by conducting classes related to the human body and diseases. Repeated health classes starting in ES may foster health literacy concerning lifestyle-related diseases. Disclosure S.Kaneko: None. K.Kamiya: None.