Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Developing a health‑promoting school using Knowledge to Action framework

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Yogesh Kumar Jain 1
. Nitin Kumar Joshi 1
. Pankaj Bhardwaj 2
. Kuldeep Singh 3
. Praveen Suthar 1
. Vibha Joshi 4

1 School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

2 Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine and School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India,

3 Department of Paediatrics and School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

4 Resource Center Health Technology Assessment, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a lack of organized effort in the arena of school health promotion, which
has been recognized as an effective approach to combat the growing incidence of communicable
and noncommunicable diseases. With this view, a study was conducted to develop comprehensive
and replicable model for health promotion in schools.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework recognized by the World
Health Organization as an implementational framework was used in an implementation study in
a school of urban Jodhpur to assess the challenges and gaps associated with health promotion
interventions in the school. Baseline regarding knowledge application and practices was gathered
using interviews with school staff, parents, and group interaction with students. Knowledge synthesis
was done by a thorough search of available literature and the gathered baseline. Resource mapping
was carried out using checklists developed from knowledge synthesis. Tailor‑made tools were
constructed for knowledge implementation for each component of the action cycle. Knowledge of
facts related to health behaviors among students was evaluated using pre‑ and postquestionnaires
and practical application of knowledge was assessed using a checklist of 28 indicators on a 5‑point
Likert scale. Values of tests were gathered and compared with test values 3 and 6 months after the
implementation of tailored interventions using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS: Increase in correct answers by students (42% to 96%) and average response for
indicators on the Likert scale (3.23–4.86) was seen on repeated interventions over 6 months. Tobacco
consumption by school staff reduced by 20% and an increase in willingness among teachers was
observed on follow‑up interviews.
CONCLUSION: The study thus developed a model for health promotion in a school with the help of
the KTA framework using tailored interventions that could further be evolved in other setups based
on local needs and available resources.

Keywords

Health behavior
health promotion
Knowledge to Action
Knowledge to Action framework
school health
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 7
August 2021
Pages 1-7

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