Abstract
BackgroundSchool-based interventions and campaigns are used to promote health and address a wide variety of public health problems. Schools are considered to be key sites for the implementation of health promotion programmes for their potential to reach the whole population in particular age-groups and instil healthy patterns of behavior early in life. However, evidence for the effectiveness of school-based health promotion interventions is highly variable. Systematic reviews of the evidence of school-based interventions tend to be highly problem- or intervention- specific, thereby missing potential generic insights into implementation and effectiveness of such programmes across problems.Methods/designA realist systematic review will be undertaken to explain how, why and in what circumstances schools can provide feasible settings for effective health promotion programmes in the United Kingdom (UK). The review will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will identify programme theories about implementation (ideas about what enables or inhibits effective health promotion to be delivered in a school setting). Phase 2 will test the programme theories so that they can be challenged, endorsed and/or refined. A Review Advisory Group of education and health professionals will be convened to help identify and choose potential programme theories, provide a ‘reality check’ on the clarity and explanatory strength of the mechanisms to be tested, and help shape the presentation of findings to be usable by practitioners and decision-makers. Review findings will be disseminated through liaison with decision-makers, and voluntary and professional groups in the fields of education and health.
Highlights
School-based interventions and campaigns are used to promote health and address a wide variety of public health problems
Schools provide the setting for promoting health and preventing a very wide variety of public health problems, which include obesity, smoking, sexual health, injury prevention, physical activity, diet, mental health, depression and bullying
We shall conduct a realist systematic review [5], informed by a completed review of previous systematic reviews, to endeavor to explain how, why and in what circumstances schools can provide a feasible setting for effective health promotion programmes in the United Kingdom (UK)
Summary
Schools are considered to be key sites for the implementation of health promotion programmes for their potential to reach the whole population in particular age-groups and instil healthy patterns of behavior early in life. Systematic reviews of the evidence of school-based interventions tend to be highly problem- or intervention- specific, thereby missing potential generic insights into implementation and effectiveness of such programmes across problems. Whether national or locally driven, they are universal, capturing the whole population in the relevant age-group [1] They provide an opportunity to ‘set’ healthy patterns of behavior early in school children’s development, which may last throughout life [1,2]. Systematic reviews of the evidence of schoolbased interventions tend to be highly problem- or intervention- specific, thereby missing generic insights about the implementation and effectiveness of such programmes across problems.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
