ERIC Number: ED306511
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1987
Pages: 14
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Discrepancies between Students' Health Education Knowledge and Health Practice.
Afaga, Lorna; And Others
Although most health education programs have focused on knowledge as the major outcome, there is conflicting information about the impact of knowledge-based programs on health behaviors. This study compared student health knowledge and health practices by administering tests and questionnaires to 1,371 students in grades three and six, and junior and senior high school students in Hawaii. Pedestrian safety was addressed in grades three and six; nutrition and physical exercise were addressed at all grade levels participating in the study; alcohol and drug abuse were studied in secondary school students only. Fifty-seven teachers were also surveyed about their teaching strategies. Discrepancies were found between knowledge and practice in the the subject areas of pedestrian safety, nutrition, physical exercise, and substance abuse. Generally, levels of behavior were notably lower than levels of knowledge. Students showed the greatest knowledge deficits in substance abuse. Low percentages of students practiced good nutrition and were physically active. Approximately one-half of the teachers reported that they included the teaching of health-related skills in their curriculum. (Author/NB)
Descriptors: Elementary Secondary Education, Exercise, Health Education, Health Promotion, Knowledge Level, Nutrition, Safety, Student Attitudes, Student Behavior, Substance Abuse
Curriculum Research and Development Group, 1776 University Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96822 (free).
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A