Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37322415›Full record

ArticleBMC medical research methodology2023

Conducting school-based health surveys with secondary schools in England: advice and recommendations from school staff, local authority professionals, and wider key stakeholders, a qualitative study.

Lorna M Hatch, Emily C Widnall, Patricia N Albers, Georgina L Hopkins, Judi Kidger, Frank de Vocht, Eileen Kaner, Esther M F van Sluijs, Hannah Fairbrother, Russell Jago and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Lorna M HatchPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK. lorna.hatch@bristol.ac.uk.
Emily C WidnallPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Patricia N AlbersPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Georgina L HopkinsPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Judi KidgerPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Frank de VochtPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Eileen KanerFaculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Esther M F van SluijsMRC Epidemiology Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Hannah FairbrotherHealth Sciences School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Russell JagoPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.
Rona M CampbellPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PL, UK.

Funding

Department of Health PD-SPH-2015Medical Research Council MC_UU_00006/5
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImproving the health and well-being of young people is a public health priority. Schools present an ideal setting to implement strategies to improve young people's health and well-being. A key strategy involves conducting surveys to assess student health needs, inform interventions, and monitor health over time. Conducting research in schools is, however, challenging. Schools can find it difficult to participate and adhere to research processes, even when they are keen to be involved in research, because of competing priorities (e.g., attendance and educational achievement), as well as time and resource constraints. There is a lack of literature on the perspectives of school staff and other key stakeholders working in young people's health on how best to work with schools to conduct health research, and in particular, health surveys.

methodsParticipants (n = 26) included members of staff from 11 secondary schools (covering students aged 11-16 years), 5 local authority professionals, and 10 wider key stakeholders in young people's health and well-being (e.g., a school governor, a national government member), based in South West England. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews that were conducted either over the phone or via an online platform. Data were analysed using the Framework Method.

resultsThree main themes were identified: Recruitment and Retention, Practicalities of Data Collection in Schools, and Collaboration from Design to Dissemination. It is important to acknowledge the role of local authorities and academy trusts in the English education system, and work closely with these when conducting school-based health surveys. School staff prefer to be contacted about research via email and in the summer term, following exams. Researchers should contact a member of staff involved in student health/well-being, as well as senior leadership, during recruitment. Data collection during the start and end of the school year is undesirable. Research should be collaborative with school staff and young people, consistent with school priorities and values, and flexible and tailored to school timetables and resources.

conclusionsOverall the findings demonstrate that survey-based research methods should be school-led and tailored to each school.

Indexed as

SchoolsStudentsAdolescentEducational StatusHealth SurveysHumansSchool Health ServicesSurveys and QuestionnairesHealthRecruitmentResearchRetentionSchoolsStudentsWell-beingYoung People

Identifiers

PMID37322415
PMCPMC10273669

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.