{"title":"Awareness and attitudes towards infectious diseases among teachers and administrators: Evaluation of health-related school program and practices","authors":"Kaan Aksun , Veysel Alcan","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2024.02.002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Schools play a crucial role in promoting health education and awareness about infectious diseases. This study aims to examine teachers' and administrators' awareness and attitudes towards infectious diseases and their specific health-related applications.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study used a new scale to collect survey data from 435 teachers and administrators. The validity and reliability of the scale were assessed by factor analysis. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were conducted to explore the relationships between variables. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed for group comparisons.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The findings revealed a concerning skepticism among a significant portion of participants towards the effectiveness of vaccines in ending epidemics and a lack of health education activities in schools. Significant differences were observed in the scores for physical measures, educational activities, awareness, observation, and attitudes based on school type and ownership of certificates (p ≤ 0.05).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study highlights the need for continuous education and awareness-raising efforts to develop sustainable school health practices. Integrating diverse health professionals into school health management teams can enhance health services in educational settings. The present study also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive health education in understanding infectious diseases, preventive measures, and proper hygiene practices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45006,"journal":{"name":"Infection Disease & Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Infection Disease & Health","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468045124000038","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Schools play a crucial role in promoting health education and awareness about infectious diseases. This study aims to examine teachers' and administrators' awareness and attitudes towards infectious diseases and their specific health-related applications.
Methods
This study used a new scale to collect survey data from 435 teachers and administrators. The validity and reliability of the scale were assessed by factor analysis. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were conducted to explore the relationships between variables. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed for group comparisons.
Results
The findings revealed a concerning skepticism among a significant portion of participants towards the effectiveness of vaccines in ending epidemics and a lack of health education activities in schools. Significant differences were observed in the scores for physical measures, educational activities, awareness, observation, and attitudes based on school type and ownership of certificates (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions
This study highlights the need for continuous education and awareness-raising efforts to develop sustainable school health practices. Integrating diverse health professionals into school health management teams can enhance health services in educational settings. The present study also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive health education in understanding infectious diseases, preventive measures, and proper hygiene practices.
期刊介绍:
The journal aims to be a platform for the publication and dissemination of knowledge in the area of infection and disease causing infection in humans. The journal is quarterly and publishes research, reviews, concise communications, commentary and other articles concerned with infection and disease affecting the health of an individual, organisation or population. The original and important articles in the journal investigate, report or discuss infection prevention and control; clinical, social, epidemiological or public health aspects of infectious disease; policy and planning for the control of infections; zoonoses; and vaccination related to disease in human health. Infection, Disease & Health provides a platform for the publication and dissemination of original knowledge at the nexus of the areas infection, Disease and health in a One Health context. One Health recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. One Health encourages and advances the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines-working locally, nationally, and globally-to achieve the best health for people, animals, and our environment. This approach is fundamental because 6 out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic, or spread from animals. We would be expected to report or discuss infection prevention and control; clinical, social, epidemiological or public health aspects of infectious disease; policy and planning for the control of infections; zoonosis; and vaccination related to disease in human health. The Journal seeks to bring together knowledge from all specialties involved in infection research and clinical practice, and present the best work in this ever-changing field. The audience of the journal includes researchers, clinicians, health workers and public policy professionals concerned with infection, disease and health.