Publication: Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study.
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Identifiers
Date
2011-01-26
Authors
Barrio-Cantalejo, Inés M
Ayudarte-Larios, Luisa M
Hernán-García, Mariano
Simón-Lorda, Pablo
García-Gutiérrez, José Francisco
Martínez-Tapias, Jesús
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Most textbooks contains messages relating to health. This profuse information requires analysis with regards to the quality of such information. The objective was to identify the scientific evidence on which the health messages in textbooks are based.
METHODS
The degree of evidence on which such messages are based was identified and the messages were subsequently classified into three categories: Messages with high, medium or low levels of evidence; Messages with an unknown level of evidence; and Messages with no known evidence.
RESULTS
844 messages were studied. Of this total, 61% were classified as messages with an unknown level of evidence. Less than 15% fell into the category where the level of evidence was known and less than 6% were classified as possessing high levels of evidence. More than 70% of the messages relating to "Balanced Diets and Malnutrition", "Food Hygiene", "Tobacco", "Sexual behaviour and AIDS" and "Rest and ergonomics" are based on an unknown level of evidence. "Oral health" registered the highest percentage of messages based on a high level of evidence (37.5%), followed by "Pregnancy and newly born infants" (35%). Of the total, 24.6% are not based on any known evidence. Two of the messages appeared to contravene known evidence.
CONCLUSION
Many of the messages included in school textbooks are not based on scientific evidence. Standards must be established to facilitate the production of texts that include messages that are based on the best available evidence and which can improve children's health more effectively.
Description
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
MeSH Terms
Medical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Services Administration::Quality of Health Care::Quality Assurance, Health Care::Guidelines as Topic
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Education::Education, Nonprofessional::Health Education
Medical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Promotion
Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans
Medical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Methods::Research Design
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Education::Schools
Medical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::Spain
Medical Subject Headings::Information Science::Information Science::Communications Media::Publications::Books::Textbooks as Topic
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Health Occupations::Evidence-Based Practice
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Education::Education, Nonprofessional::Health Education
Medical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Promotion
Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans
Medical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Methods::Research Design
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Education::Schools
Medical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::Spain
Medical Subject Headings::Information Science::Information Science::Communications Media::Publications::Books::Textbooks as Topic
Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Health Occupations::Evidence-Based Practice
DeCS Terms
CIE Terms
Keywords
Guías como asunto, Educación en salud, Promoción de la salud, Humanos, Proyectos de investigación, Instituciones académicas, España, Libros de texto como asunto, Práctica clínica basada en la evidencia
Citation
Barrio-Cantalejo IM, Ayudarte-Larios LM, Hernán-García M, Simón-Lorda P, García-Gutiérrez JF, Martínez-Tapias J. Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study. BMC Public Health. 2011; 11(1):54