Evaluating the Effect of Educational Interventions on Health Literacy through Social Networking Services to Promote Students' Quality of Life / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown the health literacy effects on the general state of health and its related factors, as well as health outcomes, physical and mental health, and health-related quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of training based on health literacy through social networking strategies to promote health-related quality of life among students of Islamic Azad University, Shahr Rey Branch, Iran. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 students with poor or average quality of life score. Participants were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups (60 participants each). Health literacy and quality of life data were collected at baseline, immediately after, and 3 months after intervention. The educational intervention was conducted online using social networking services. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The results showed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of health literacy and quality of life at baseline (P=0.979 and 0.269, respectively). The mean score of health literacy and quality of life in the experimental group, compared with the control group, significantly increased immediately after and 3 months after the intervention (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The educational intervention administered by applying health literacy strategies online, through social networking services, can be effective in improving the quality of life of students.

Nutrition education program and knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Iranian students: a clinical trial

Dietary behavior modification has an important effect on chronic disease occurrence. This study aimed to examine the effects of an education program on nutritional knowledge, attitude, and behavior among female students studying in Bojnord, Iran. This was a clinical trial that was conducted in 2009. Of all secondary schools, 2 classes were randomly selected from which 115 students were recruited and randomly divided into intervention group [n = 55] or control group [n = 60]. The intervention program was administered to the intervention group, whereas the other group just received routine education. Data were collected at baseline, and after 45 days and 360 days of follow up via a self-administered questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice variables. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze data. As the results showed, there were significant differences within each group over time in terms of knowledge, attitude, and behavior [P < 0.001]. Furthermore, the two groups, regardless of time, were different in all studied variables [P < 0.001] and also the interaction between time and group were significantly different regarding the three studied scales [P < 0.001]. This study indicated that the designed educational program could improve the knowledge, attitude, and nutrition behavior of female students of Birdjand up to 12 months. Therefore, this program could be conducted in primary schools of Bojnord city to improve nutrition behavior of the students