School-aged Children Research Articles

Association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and attention among children aged 6-12 years: chain mediating effects of fundamental movement skills and aerobic fitness.

To explore the association between physical activity and attention among children aged 6-12 years and to determine whether fundamental movement skills and aerobic fitness mediate the association between physical activity and attention. A total of 1,086 school-aged children (mean age: 9.40 ± 2.03 years) were included in the present study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Scale-Short Form. Fundamental movement skills were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, third edition, and aerobic fitness was evaluated using the 20-metre shuttle run. Attention was assessed by the d2 Attention Test. There were significant positive correlations between physical activity and fundamental movement skills, physical activity and aerobic fitness, and physical activity and attention (all p < 0.05). Both fundamental movement skills and aerobic fitness fully mediated the relationship between physical activity and attention. In addition, fundamental movement skills and aerobic fitness had chain-mediating effects on the relationship between physical activity and attention. High levels of physical activity were positively associated with attention among school-aged children. Fundamental movement skills and aerobic fitness played a chain-mediating role in the relationship between physical activity and attention.

The Year-By-Year Primary and Secondary Education Histories of Homeschooled Individuals and the Implications for Empirical Homeschooling Research

ABSTRACT This study uses three nationally representative data sets of U.S. school-aged children who are currently homeschooled and two nationally representative data sets of U.S. adults who have ever been homeschooled to empirically document the amount of time homeschooled individuals are homeschooled, how much time they spend in public- or private-school settings, and the amount of exit out of or entry into homeschooling over the course of their primary and secondary education. Findings reveal high levels of variation in when and how long individuals are homeschooled. Implications for researching the homeschooling population are also discussed.

Weight status and psychosomatic complaints in Swedish adolescent boys and girls: does family support play a buffering role?

BackgroundPsychosomatic complaints have increased among adolescents in recent decades, as have overweight and obesity rates. Both of these trends are regarded as public health concerns. However, the associations between weight status and psychosomatic complaints are not yet clear, necessitating further research. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between weight status and psychosomatic complaints in Swedish adolescent boys and girls, as well as to explore the potential buffering effect of family support.MethodsThe data was obtained from the cross-sectional Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2017/18, which involved 3,135 students aged 11, 13, and 15 years. Weight status was based on self-reported information on weight and height, which allowed for the calculation of body mass index (BMI) and the categorisation of participants into three groups: non-overweight, overweight, and obese. Psychosomatic complaints were assessed based on information regarding the frequency of eight different complaints, which were summed into an index. Family support was measured using three items describing the level of perceived emotional support, and an index was created, which was dichotomised into low and high family support. Gender stratified linear regression models were run to examine the associations between weight status and psychosomatic complaints. Age and family affluence were included as covariates. Interaction terms were included to evaluate whether family support moderated the main association.ResultsObesity was associated with higher levels of psychosomatic complaints in both boys and girls when compared to being non-overweight (boys: b = 2.56, 95% CI 0.32, 4.79; girls: b = 3.35, 95% CI 0.77, 5.94), while being overweight did not show any statistically significant associations with the outcome (boys: b = 0.21, 95% CI -0.72, 1.15; girls: b = 0.78, 95% CI -0.42, 1.98). In girls, a statistically significant interaction effect between family support and weight status was observed (p = 0.031), indicating that family support buffered against psychosomatic complaints in girls with obesity. No statistically significant interaction was found for boys (p = 0.642).ConclusionsThe findings of this study highlight the importance of public health initiatives aimed at preventing childhood obesity. They also underscore the significant role of family support in reducing psychosomatic complaints among adolescents with obesity. Further research is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of these relationships.

REVIEW OF THE BOOK "A MODEL FOR DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION OF AGGRESSIVENESS IN THE BEHAVIOR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS

The review presents the monograph of Chief. Associate Professor Simona Nikolova, PhD "Model for diagnosis and prevention of aggressiveness in the behavior of primary school students", which is distinguished by relevance, given the dynamic and often extreme situation in the educational environment. The topic focuses on the need to prevent aggressiveness in the behavior of children of primary school age, as a form of overcoming negative manifestations in their behavior. The proposed model methodologically offers an idea for the work of the school psychologist with students of primary school age with the aim of developing cognitive and emotional skills for communicating with peers, developing empathic abilities and opportunities to evaluate others' behavior. The proposed program offers, in terms of content, the immediate work of the psychologist with the children in a real school environment.

MALNUTRITION AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENTAMONG UNDER FIVE YEARS CHILDREN IN INDIA

Malnutrition is a silent epidemic that is associated with structural and functional brain disease. Malnourished children have been found to have a wide range of cognitive abnormalities.Malnutrition in under five yearschildren has been linked to lower intelligence quotient, cognitive development, academic achievement, and behavioural difficulties in school-aged children compared to matched controls.The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the link between malnutrition and cognitive development. A study was conducted by the secondary data including review paper, research articles, WHO report, newspaper articles and NFHS-5 report in the literature that have attempted the existing knowledge on the study. This article discusses the most important malnourished factors and its associations with cognitive functions.

Coregulation between parents and elementary school-aged children in response to challenge and in association with child outcomes: A systematic review.

Parent-child coregulation, the active dyadic adaptation of biological states, behaviors, and emotions, is an important developmental process. Especially in challenging situations, children need coregulatory support from their parents, which supports the formation of their self-regulation skills. While research has established that coregulation occurs in various contexts across the developmental period, less is known about what constitutes coregulation in terms of child adjustment and the contextual factors that affect coregulation. This systematic review examined what constitutes parent-child coregulation in response to an experimentally induced challenge and in association with child socioemotional outcomes. Systematic searches were conducted in Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, and PubMed, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Fourteen full-text, peer-reviewed, empirical journal articles that were available in English were included. Children were between the ages of 3 and 12 (Mage = 5.37 years, 44%-100% male, 6.3%-90% White). Findings indicate that behavioral and emotional coregulation in response to challenge is positively associated with better child self-regulation. Coregulation associated with positive child outcomes seems to be characterized by high flexibility and dyadic synchrony in mutually responsive and engaged states. Findings regarding physiological coregulation suggest that high levels of physiological synchrony can be maladaptive for child outcomes in the presence of risk (e.g., poverty, maltreatment). In addition, this review highlighted the current ambiguity surrounding the diverse terminologies and concepts used to measure coregulation. The findings of this review reveal a significant link between parent-child coregulation and child socioemotional outcomes, while supporting the idea that contextual factors need to be considered to understand its significance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prospective Attitudes Towards Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine in Pregnant Women in Greece

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory pathogen with high morbidity and mortality, especially in children under two years of age. Severe RSV infection poses a significant threat to healthcare systems, making vaccination an utmost need. In August 2023, the U.S. FDA approved an RSV maternal vaccine to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in infants throughout their first six months of life. This cross-sectional survey was designed to evaluate pregnant women’s willingness to receive the vaccine during pregnancy. An anonymous survey was administered from April 2023 to December 2023 to pregnant women aged above 16 years old attending gynecology wards of randomly selected public and private hospitals in Crete. The primary outcome was the intention to receive the vaccine. Univariable and multivariable analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with the intention to get vaccinated. Questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 335 pregnant females who agreed to participate in this study. The intention to get vaccinated against RSV was positively associated with educational level, the presence of school-age children, RSV infection awareness, intention to get routine pregnancy vaccines according to the National Immunization Program (NIP), and previous vaccination against COVID-19. The majority of pregnant females were not familiar with the term RSV and the upcoming vaccine. An educational campaign regarding RSV infection and its vaccine is required to improve women’s perceptions and to support healthcare workers in promoting it upon its availability in Greece.

The association of vitamin D insufficiency with the prevalence of obesity in children: implications for serum calcium levels, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone maturation.

Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a potential risk factor for various adverse health outcomes. However, its specific role in metabolic regulation and skeletal development in school-aged children is not fully understood. This study aimed to explore the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and childhood obesity rates, and its impact on serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and bone age in children. The study analyzed clinical data from 159 school-aged children who underwent medical examinations. Participants were divided into the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) deficiency group and the 25(OH)D3 normal group based on their serum levels. We compared body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), Ca, ALP, bone age, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between the two groups. Logistic regression and Spearman correlation analyses were performed to further investigate relationships between 25(OH)D3 levels and metabolic and bone-related markers. This study showed that the 25(OH)D3 deficiency cohort exhibited significantly higher BMI, TC, TG, and ALP levels, with lower Ca levels and delayed bone age compared to the normal group. Logistic regression analysis identified Ca, ALP, and bone age as significant predictors of 25(OH)D3 deficiency. Subgroup analysis showed that in the 25(OH)D3 deficient group, children with higher BMI had elevated TC, ALP levels, and delayed bone age, while Ca levels were lower. Correlation analysis confirmed the predictive value of these markers for 25(OH)D3 deficiency. Our findings demonstrate that 25(OH)D3 deficiency is strongly associated with obesity in school-aged children and may negatively affect normal skeletal development. Regular monitoring of 25(OH)D3 levels in school-aged children is essential for ensuring proper growth and development, especially in those at risk for obesity.

Be the hero project, assessing the quality of basic life support skills in school-age children

BackgroundOut-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) ranks as the third leading cause of death, with a survival rate of less than 10%. Although 70% of these incidents are witnessed by laypeople, only one-third receive Basic Life Support (BLS). Educating school-age children (SAC) in BLS is an effective strategy to increase the rate of bystander BLS and subsequently improve survival. We aimed to determine whether there is the physical capacity to perform chest compressions (CT) with the required technical quality in SAC, determining the optimal age to begin BLS training in schools and if there are gender differences in performing BLS.AimEvaluate the capacity to learn and the quality of BLS maneuvers performed by SAC.MethodsDuring a four-month period BLS training sessions, led by nurses, were conducted in schools in Oeiras, Portugal. These sessions targeted students aged 14 to 18. Each session lasted 100 min.ResultsA total of 734 SAC were trained. All students were able to provide CT with the appropriate depth. Male students performed deeper and more successful CT and female students were able to achieve better recoil.ConclusionsSAC aged 14–18 years old were able to learn and perform high-quality BLS. The findings showed no differences in results based on gender. Additionally, short practice sessions of 100 min, led by nurses, appear to be sufficient for the retention and execution of high-quality BLS.

Validation and reliability of teleaudiology approach among deaf or hard of hearing school age children in Malaysia: a preliminary study

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigated the implementation of teleaudiology in Malaysia's Special Education Service Centre (SESC), aiming to optimize audiological services. Design Using a cross-sectional design, the research compared the outcomes of audiological tests conducted via teleaudiology and traditional methods on deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) school-age children. Study Sample The study included 25 students for validation, 5 for reliability, and 5 educational audiologists and facilitators. Results The results demonstrated high validation and reliability values for video otoscopy, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, and pure tone audiometry. Intra-rater reliability was consistently high. In terms of testing duration, the conventional approach took an average of 3.32 minutes longer than teleaudiology. Conclusion The successful implementation of teleaudiology in the SESC catered to the audiological needs of the DHH population and fostered professional collaboration, potentially benefiting educational audiologists.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae: not a typical respiratory pathogen.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia among school-aged children and young adults. Infections occur throughout the year but tend to surge during winter months across Europe. A characteristic epidemic cycle, where a substantial surge in the number of infections occurs, is seen approximately every 1-4 years and hypothesized to be driven by changes in immunity and a shift in circulating variants. Once thought to be an organism of low virulence, it has now been found to possess several virulence factors, including toxin production, biofilm formation and evasion of antibody-mediated immunity. The lack of a cell wall and reduced metabolic pathways limit the options for antibiotic treatment. Acquired macrolide resistance is a growing concern, with >80% of cases in China being macrolide-resistant. Although efforts have been made to develop a vaccine, there are still substantial hurdles to overcome in relation to vaccine-enhanced disease, which results from an inappropriate immune response among vaccinated individuals.

A brief research report on the efficacy of a RAN training in elementary school age children

Numerous studies could prove that children with reading disorders show RAN deficits and that RAN is especially strongly connected to the automatization of word recognition. In contrast intervention studies so far have provided little convincing evidence for the trainability of RAN or even a transfer effect on reading competence. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the efficacy of an adaptive, software-based RAN-training in a group of 57 children aged 9.3 years (SD 1.10 years) with a RAN-Deficit and/or difficulties with word-reading-speed and to determine if there is a transfer effect to reading speed of words and pseudowords as well as to reading comprehension on the word-, sentence and text level. The software-based training of RAN letters, numbers and colors is an intervention over 18 training days. Children were encouraged to name visually presented items in a serial format as fast as a red rectangle jumping from item to item. The speed of the red rectangle was successively increased with each successful training session. Univariate ANOVAs with repeated measures showed that children had a significantly higher naming speed for letters and numbers both immediately after completion of the intervention and in the follow-up measures. A transfer of the training effect to reading speed for words, reading comprehension on the word- and sentence-level, but not to reading speed for pseudowords and text comprehension, could be demonstrated. Due to the missing of a control-group comparison, it remains to be proven in subsequent research whether this effect is a maturation-related change or a training effect.

Fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference in children and adolescents with chronic pain: a longitudinal study.

Research has shown that pain and sleep disturbance often co-occur and influence each other over time in children and adolescents with chronic pain. Longitudinal studies examining the underlying mechanisms of this association are scarce and have focused primarily on the role of internalizing mental health symptoms and mood. This longitudinal study aimed to determine whether fatigue underlies the co-occurrence and mutual maintenance of sleep disturbance and pain over time in children and adolescents with chronic pain. Participants were 355 school-aged children and adolescents (mean age = 11.63 year old; 67% female) with chronic pain. The participants provided sociodemographic information and responded a survey that included measures of pain (duration, intensity, interference), sleep disturbance, and fatigue at first assessment and 12 months later. Partially latent, cross-lagged, panel, structural equation models revealed that sleep disturbance, pain intensity, and pain interference co-occurred at both time points. Higher levels of sleep disturbance, pain intensity, and pain interference at first assessment predicted higher levels of sleep disturbance, pain intensity, and pain interference at follow-up, respectively. Higher levels of pain interference at first assessment predicted higher levels of sleep disturbance at follow-up while controlling for initial levels of sleep disturbance. Furthermore, fatigue was found to mediate the association between first assessment and follow-up sleep disturbance, the association between first assessment and follow-up pain interference, and the association between first assessment pain interference and follow-up sleep disturbance. The findings highlight the need to assess and address fatigue in children and adolescents with chronic pain and sleep disturbance.

High prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis in school-age children in the villages adjacent to Lake Chamo in the southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

The prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis remains a challenge despite government efforts to eliminate the disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis in school-age children living in the villages surrounding Lake Chamo in southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2023 in Shele Mela Kebele in Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia. Stool samples were collected from 597 school-age children. A singe Kato-Katz for helminths and formalin-ether concentration technique for protozoan parasites were used to process the samples. The intensity of Schistosoma mansoni infection among school-age children was determined by counting the number of eggs per gram of stool. Of the 597 children screened, 52.3% (95% CI: 48.4.4-56.4) were positive for Schistosoma mansoni. These findings showed that 55% of the infections were light, 30.3% were moderate, and 14.7% were heavy. The mean egg count of S. mansoni parasites was 182.1 eggs per gram. The prevalence of other intestinal parasites (Hymenolopis nana, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, Taenia species, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica) was found to be 7.7% (46/597). The overall prevalence of S. mansoni co-infection with other intestinal parasites was 5.0% (30/597). Specifically, the co-infection rates were 1.5% for A. lumbricoides, 1.3% for H. nana, 1.0% for Taenia species, 0.2% for Hookworm, 0.2% for E. histolytica, and 0.2% for G. lamblia. The study showed a high rate of S. mansoni infection among school-age children. This calls for immediate action, such as school-based deworming, to protect these children from the disease and reduce the burden. Further research is needed to understand the transmission of the infection by the intermediate host.

Perspective of Fulfilling The Social Needs of Children Affected to The Mountain Semeru Eruption: Qualitative Study

Indonesia is an archipelagic country located at the confluence of four tectonic plates and there are volcanic arcs along the islands of Sumatra-Java-Nusa Tenggara-Sulawesi. This condition causes Indonesia to be in a condition prone to natural disasters, especially volcanic eruptions. Disasters have a more serious impact on vulnerable groups. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect research data. Researchers collected demographic data at the research stage and then conducted direct interviews with research informants through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion. A total of 24 participants were involved in this study which were taken using purposive sampling. The research was conducted on preschool and school aged children (3-12 years) who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, Indonesia. The Mount Semeru eruption disaster resulted in psychological problems in children because peer separation, behavior, and borderline personality disorder have been widely reported in volcanic eruption disasters. Good social support is an important aspect in the process of recovering children after a disaster. Rapid life changes encourage parents to adapt immediately to meet the needs of children.

A REALIZAÇÃO DO PROGRAMA SAÚDE NA ESCOLA COMO FERRAMENTA PARA PROMOÇÃO DE EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE DURANTE A FORMAÇÃO EM MEDICINA DE FAMÍLIA E COMUNIDADE: UM RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA

Introduction: The School Health Program (PSE), announced by the Ministry of Health in 2007, aims to promote health in partnership with educational institutions to improve the quality of life of the population, specifically school-aged children. This involves collaboration between health and education professionals, providing appropriate knowledge to reduce vulnerabilities that may compromise the development and the future of children and adolescents. Objective: To report the experience of a family medicine resident, part of a family health team (eSF) in the Federal District (DF), primarily promoting sexual education for children and adolescents in two public schools within the team's area of coverage. Methodology: This is a descriptive and qualitative study, of the experience report type, conducted during the two years of residency in Family and Community Medicine, from 2023 to 2024, in the satellite city of Sobradinho, Federal District. Results: The students involved, aged between 9 and 12 years, showed great interest in the topics addressed regarding sexuality and hygiene habits, adopting a participatory attitude, engaging in the exchange of experiences, raising questions, and discussing the subjects covered in the meeting and topics detailed in the adolescent health booklet. Conclusion: The necessity of partnership between health teams and education professionals was evident to provide health promotion, especially focused on sexual education, aiming to reduce negative outcomes and minimize future social and health damages in the vulnerable population of the DF.

Mexiletine shortened QTc interval in an age-dependent manner but suppressed ventricular arrhythmias at all age in children with long QT syndrome type 8

Abstract Background long QT syndrome (LQTS) type 8 (LQT8) is caused by mutations in CACNA1C, a gene encoding the α-subunit of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Mexiletine is sodium channel blocker which is often utilized for patients with LQTS type 3. Recently, the potential QT shortening effect of mexiletine in patients with LQTS type 2, however the efficacy for LQT8 patients have not been elucidated sufficiently. Purpose The study aimed to examine the efficacy of mexiletine for LQT8 children. Methods and Results The study consisted of 5 LQT8 children diagnosed at age &amp;lt;18 years from 4 families (female n=2). Three cases diagnosed on the first day of life, others during school-aged period. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.8 ± 4.9 years. The CACNA1C mutations identified in the patients were R518C (Case No.1), R858H (No.2), M1476R (No3 and 4), and G402S (No.5). We analyzed response in 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters to mexiletine (3mg/kg, Max 125mg) intravenous infusion over 10 minutes. 12-lead ECGs were recorded at rest and 10 minutes after infusion. Two of them were received in the school-age period (No.1 and 2), two were in the neonatal period (No.4 and 5), and another was twice in both periods (No.3). QTc was drastically shortened in school-aged children (No.1: 521/456ms, No.2: 691/556, No.3: 568/532ms), while 3 neonatal cases showed no QTc shortening (No.3: 481/479ms, No.4: 600/601ms, No.5: Pre 689ms/Post 714ms) (Figure). T wave alternans (TWA) that had occurred incessantly in the neonatal case No.4 dramatically suppressed a few seconds after mexiletine infusion. In addition, torsades de pointes (TdP) had been recorded in 2 cases (No.2 and 5). Then, case No.2 and 5 started combination therapy of oral mexiletine and β-blocker, and No.4 mexiletine therapy. They had no cardiac event during medication for several years, although case No.2 suffered recurrent cardiac events because of non-compliance to mexiletine. Conclusion Mexiletine shortened QTc interval in school-aged children with LQT8, but not in neonates. Regardless of QTc shortening, mexiletine successfully reduced TWA and TdP at all age of LQT8 children.Mexiletine infusion test

Risk perceptions and risk behavior among children attending a road safety education program in Greece

Abstract Background Road Traffic Injuries (RTI’s) are a significant public health concern for children, placing a considerable burden on their well-being. Greece has consistently recorded high numbers of RTI’s among adolescents. Methods A university lab (LaHeRS, HMU) offers a road safety education program for primary and secondary students in Heraklion, Greece. The program consists of two parallel sessions (practical training using a driving simulator and activity-based risk-perception training) aimed at enhancing competencies in resilience to peer influence, empowering children to engage in informed decision-making and fostering hazard perceptions skills. The current presentation reports on 800 students who attended the program between October 2023 and April 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on student’s beliefs, attitudes and practices on road safety. Results A total of 800 students attended the program from the broader Crete Region. 50.5% were girls with a mean age of 12.6 (SD = 2.3) years, 60.9% secondary education students, 58% resided in rural areas. 33.9% reported using a motorcycle and 33.8% a car without a driving license. 23.3% reported experiencing a road traffic incident while commuting. 57.1% identified road safety as a problem in their place of residence, only 26.5% felt safe on local streets and only 9.1% considered other road users as watchful. Additionally, 66.8% highly valued helmet use as a precaution in short distances. 71.6% reported always wearing seatbelt in front seats and 68.9% thought seatbelts are important at back seats. 52.1% did not identify themselves as risk takers on the street, and only 22.5% felt competent in avoiding road risks. 32.9% admitted experiencing peer pressure while commuting. Conclusions Risk taking behaviors and low use of protective measures are prevalent among school aged children and need to be addressed through targeted road safety education programs and interventions. Key messages • Promoting safe behaviors and enhancing risk perception is critical among children and young adolescents. • Road safety education should be integrated into school curricula, starting from pre-school education.

Are answers affected by data collection on paper or online? The case of Belgian adolescents

Abstract Background In the early 2000s, the prevalence estimations were compared in relation with the mode of data collection, i.e. paper or online. Following the widely spread routine use of connected devices, especially in adolescents, such a monitoring is of interest. Within the 2022 “Health Behaviour in school-aged children” survey in French-speaking primary and secondary schools of Belgium, those participating could choose between paper and online collection. Our objective was to compare a large set of indicators between the two modes after adjusting for the students’ characteristics. Methods After a two-stage random selection of schools and classes, 11,751 10-to-20-year-old adolescents completed the questionnaire either on paper or online. Descriptive analysis and comparisons were conducted using chi2 and multiple logistic regressions adjusted for the students’ sociodemographic characteristics that may vary according to the questionnaire mode. Results Overall, 54.9% of the questionnaires were completed online. The choice of the collection mode provided to the schools’ headteachers was associated with the adolescents’ characteristics. Those who completed the questionnaire online were more likely to be in secondary schools, in Wallonia, and of a more favourable socioeconomic profile. After adjustments, no difference in the indicators regarding health, well-being, substance use, or sleep duration was observed. Conversely, a difference was observed for screen time (internet ≥2h/weekday: 70.4% on paper vs. 72.3% online; adjusted P-value: 0.02), some food groups (daily vegetables: 51.2% vs. 58.0%; P-value&amp;lt;0.001) and body weight status (overweight including obesity: 16.7% vs. 14.0%; P-value&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusions In some circumstances such as data collection in the school setting, mixed modes are still necessary due to operational issues. While most indicators did not show a difference between online and paper collection, potential implications for others need to be further understood. Key messages • Collecting data through online or paper questionnaires does not lead to major differences in prevalence estimates. • With the rise of online surveys, further assessment is required to understand the potential declaration biases.

Efficacy of digital interventions for smoking prevention among children: a systematic review

Abstract Background Smoking remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with initiation often occurring in childhood. Early smoking onset is linked to increased difficulty in quitting and higher risk of long-term health complications. Traditional prevention strategies have not fully succeeded in curbing youth smoking rates, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Digital interventions (DI), such as gamified education, social media campaigns, and virtual reality, offer a novel avenue for engagement and education. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of DI in preventing smoking, and improving knowledge and awareness about smoking damages, among children. This review is part of the PRIN project, whose goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a DI aimed at school-aged children, intended to increase knowledge about the negative effects of smoking and prevent its use. Methods On the 18th of March 2024, PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO were surfed for trials and observational studies evaluating DI for smoking prevention among children aged 6-12 years. Study quality will be evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and New Castle-Ottawa scale. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO. Results From 3,081 initially identified articles, 328 papers were removed because duplicate. The screening process is ongoing. Conclusions DI are a promising tool for engaging young populations through platforms they are familiar with and receptive to. By leveraging the high penetration of digital technology in the daily lives of children, these interventions have the potential to deliver smoking prevention messages in a compelling and interactive manner. Understanding the effectiveness of DI in smoking prevention can significantly contribute to public health by providing viable alternatives to traditional methods and potentially reducing future smoking-related health burdens. Key messages • Evaluating digital strategies for smoking prevention among children could offer vital alternatives to traditional methods, potentially reducing long-term health risks. • Digital interventions (DI) offer promising new ways to engage young audiences on smoking prevention using familiar platforms, potentially reshaping public health approaches.