Lwin May O, Malik Shelly, Chua Terrance S J, Chee Tek Siong, Tan Yong Seng
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Glob Health Promot. 2016 Mar;23(1):27-36. doi: 10.1177/1757975914555730. Epub 2014 Dec 17.
This study aims to examine the efficacy of a hypertension awareness education program in Singapore in reaching out to a wider population of diverse racial and intergenerational cohorts by dispatching grade five children as information intermediaries to their immediate and extended family members.
After receiving structured instruction and training on blood pressure screening, students were requested to share knowledge gained in school with their family members at home and practice blood pressure measurement on family volunteers. We assessed pre- and post-program blood pressure knowledge change, attitude toward screening, and the diffusion of blood pressure information. One adult family member was also asked to complete a short survey at the program end.
A comparison of the students' (final n = 3926) pre- and post-program survey data showed that knowledge and attitudes towards knowledge sharing improved after participating in the program. The post-program survey also revealed that students generally felt confident and displayed positive attitudes in performing blood pressure screening on family members. On average, each student practiced blood pressure measurement on 3.04 people. Female family members were more likely to be targeted for knowledge sharing and screening than male family members. The family members' survey revealed positive attitudes towards screening, but family members were not confident about getting their measurements done regularly.
The program met its objectives in raising the awareness of grade five children and provision of knowledge. It also met the larger objective of raising hypertension awareness in a wider population, especially those who otherwise might not directly receive health education and blood pressure screening.
本研究旨在通过派遣五年级学生作为信息中介，向其直系和旁系家庭成员传播信息，考察新加坡一项高血压认知教育项目在覆盖更广泛的不同种族和代际人群方面的效果。
在接受了关于血压筛查的结构化指导和培训后，要求学生在家中与家庭成员分享在学校学到的知识，并对家庭志愿者进行血压测量实践。我们评估了项目前后的血压知识变化、对筛查的态度以及血压信息的传播情况。还要求一名成年家庭成员在项目结束时完成一份简短的调查问卷。
对学生（最终n = 3926）项目前后的调查数据进行比较显示，参与项目后，学生对知识分享的知识和态度有所改善。项目后的调查还显示，学生在对家庭成员进行血压筛查时普遍感到自信并表现出积极的态度。平均而言，每个学生对3.04人进行了血压测量。女性家庭成员比男性家庭成员更有可能成为知识分享和筛查的对象。家庭成员的调查显示对筛查持积极态度，但家庭成员对定期进行测量缺乏信心。
该项目在提高五年级学生的认知和提供知识方面实现了其目标。它还实现了在更广泛人群中提高高血压认知的更大目标，特别是那些原本可能无法直接接受健康教育和血压筛查的人群。
