Examining the sleeping habits of preschool and elementary school children in Southern Slovakia.

OBJECTIVES: Our research aimed to examine children's sleeping habits from preschool to the end of elementary school age. Developing proper sleeping habits in childhood is essential, as it is decisive for the rest of our lives. METHODS: A total of 339 children (160 males and 179 females) took part in the research, of which 145 were preschool-age children (3-7 years old), 72 lower-grade elementary school children (6-11 years old), and 122 upper-grade elementary school children (12-16 years old). The questionnaire was completed in a paper form (elementary school students) and online (kindergarten children). RESULTS: The research results show that most of the children spend enough time sleeping following the recommendations. In case of the kindergarten children, the younger ones also sleep in the afternoon on weekends (average of 3.66 years, 28.3%), and the older ones do not sleep in the afternoon either in kindergarten during the week or at home at the weekend (average of 5.22 years, 46.2%). The use of blue light typically increases with age; 39% of the preschoolers, 61% of the 6-11-year-olds, and 67% of the 12-16-year-olds use it before falling asleep. Sleep aids and rituals are used by 87.6% of the preschoolers, 67.4% of the 6-11-year-olds, and 34.4% of the 12-16-year-olds, because significantly more preschoolers find it more difficult to fall asleep than older children. At night, 40% of the preschoolers wake up at least once (due to biological needs - 46.3%), 32% of the 6-11-year-olds wake up at night (due to nightmares - 42.3%), and 41% of the 12-16-year-olds also wake up all night (due to biological needs - 31.9%, and due to noise - 29.8%). CONCLUSION: Although the children get enough sleep, significantly more upper-grade school children feel tired in the morning. It is essential to help sleep and eliminate factors that prevent falling asleep to create a healthy circadian rhythm in the life of children.

[Direct effect of contemporary health education programmes on the knowledge about hand hygiene and technique of hand washing in primary school age children]. / Kortárs egészségfejlesztési programok közvetlen hatása alsó tagozatos gyermekek kézhigiénés tudására és megfelelo kézmosási technikájára.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: In the case of primary school children in Budapest (n = 165), data on their social status and their previous knowledge on hand hygiene were elicited with the help of pre-knowledge questionnaires issued by students of higher education. The aim of the research was introducing a novel pedagogical procedure - application and optimization of peer education in the development of proper hand hygiene among primary school students. METHOD: The knowledge-based survey was conducted after four (n = 85) and eight hours of teaching (n = 36). In addition, the effectiveness of hand washing was tested immediately before (n = 166) and after the four (n = 74) and eight hours of teaching (n = 35) with Semmelweis Scanner after rubbing the hand with fluorescent cream. RESULTS: Prior knowledge of hand hygiene significantly increased after the four-hour and eight-hour trainings. In the case of smaller children, the effect of the eight-hour training was more pronounced. Similar results were obtained with regards to the changes in the number of areas missed while rubbing the surface of the hand as a result of the teaching. CONCLUSION: Sociological surveys on hand hygiene knowledge and direct physical measurements indicate that training with appropriate pedagogical procedures is effective and contributes to the environmentally conscious hygiene culture of children aged 6 to 10. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(12): 485-490.

[Experience and motivation: opinion of Hungarian high school students about health promotion programs]. / Tapasztalatok és motiváltság: magyar középiskolások véleménye az egészségvédo programokról.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related attitudes can be encouraged most effectively at young ages. Young generations would require more interactive methods in programs engaged in health promotion. AIM: The aim of the authors was to get an insight into the attitudes, experience and motivation of youngsters in connection with health promotion programs and the community service work. METHOD: The questionnaires were filled in by high school students studying in Budapest and in the countryside (N = 898). RESULTS: 44.4% of the students did not have lessons or extracurricular activities dealing with health promotion. Concerning health promotion programs, youngsters in Budapest had more positive experience, while female students showed a more adoptive attitude. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that in one of the most susceptible life stages, many youngsters either do not participate in programs dealing with health promotion, or participate in programs that are within the framework of school subjects or extracurricular activities building on traditional teaching methods.