School Health Promotion at the Time of COVID-19: An Exploratory Investigation with School Leaders and Teachers.

Francesca Brivio,Alessandro Domenico Mazzaferro,Simona Pezzoli,Luca Biffi,Veronica Velasco,Andrea Greco,Ilenia Fontana,Laura Fagnani

doi:10.3390/ejihpe11040087

Abstract

The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted the entire school population’s emotions and the disruption of the organization of the school world. In this context it is important to reflect on the role of health promotion at school. The present study aimed at exploring school leaders’ and teachers’ perspectives and experiences about COVID-19 pandemic and its effects in the school and education system. The first objective was to gather the experience of school leaders regarding the change in school organization, with particular attention to organizational and health promotion aspects. The second was to investigate the perception of health promotion and self-efficacy of teachers in primary, middle and high schools. The research was conducted using qualitative (focus groups for the school leaders) and quantitative methods (questionnaires for the teachers). The findings showed new ways of improving wellbeing at school and implementing health promotion through the sharing of good practice between school leaders. The need for time and space to reflect among school leaders on the educational and didactic aspects of school organization also emerged. Teachers showed a low to medium level of self-efficacy regarding the adoption of strategies in line with health promotion; specificities for each grade and level will be discussed.

Highlights

To limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and its associated negative public health consequences, most countries in the world have decided to implement nonpharmacological interventions since March 2020
In Italy, namely the province of Bergamo, that is the primary city involved in the project discussed in this paper, the ongoing pandemic situation has forced periodic quarantines among the school population to contain the risk of COVID-19 virus infection
These needs originated from the desire to continue the debate, and from the value and uniqueness of the space the school leaders were offered: for the first time they found a space and a time to interact with each other among peers, where bureaucratic duties gave way to sharing of thoughts about the management of the schools, in the crucial period that started in March 2020, without forgetting the issues of health promotion

Summary

Introduction

To limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and its associated negative public health consequences, most countries in the world have decided to implement nonpharmacological interventions since March 2020. One of the most common measures used has been the closure of different types and grades of schools for certain periods during the school year, based on epidemiological trends. In Italy, namely the province of Bergamo, that is the primary city involved in the project discussed in this paper, the ongoing pandemic situation has forced periodic quarantines among the school population to contain the risk of COVID-19 virus infection. The use of new technologies has been increased over the past because of the need for social and physical distance. Even though people have been physically separated, they have been able to connect through social networks and the use of technological tools. As asserted by Psacharopoulous et al [1], the global COVID-19 pandemic

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