Remote Implementation of a Health Promotion Program in an Underserved High School during COVID-19: Lessons Learned

Reseasrch Article

J Pediatr & Child Health Care. 2021; 6(2): 1045.

Remote Implementation of a Health Promotion Program in an Underserved High School during COVID-19: Lessons Learned

Gefter L¹*, Morioka-Douglas N¹, Srivastava A¹, Jiang CA¹ and Rodriguez E²*

¹Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Department of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine 211 Quarry Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

²Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine 1265 Welch Road – MSOB X240 Stanford, CA 94304, USA

*Corresponding author: Liana Gefter, Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Department of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine 211 Quarry Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

Eunice Rodriguez, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine 1265 Welch Road – MSOB X240 Stanford, CA 94304, USA

Received: July 07, 2021; Accepted: July 26, 2021; Published: August 02, 2021

Abstract

Background: This study examined the impact of remote implementation of a school-based health promotion program on health beliefs and behaviors of adolescent participants from an underserved high school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: As part of the program, Family Medicine residents trained healthy 10th grade high school students from a vulnerable community in California to become health coaches for family members with diabetes. Five of eight onehour weekly sessions were delivered remotely after shelter in place was mandated. Students completed online pre and post-participation surveys including questions on health beliefs and behaviors and experience with remote learning. We explored factors associated with the likelihood of attending the remote classes, and we used paired T-tests to compare pre-and post-scores of health beliefs and behaviors, and qualitative analysis of open-ended questions to assess differences between those who completed in person sessions only and those who attended remote sessions.

Results: 45 participants completed pre-surveys and 26 of those completed postsurveys. 14 of those 26 attended remote program sessions. The 14 who attended the additional remote sessions demonstrated significant improvements in health mindsets (belief that body has self-healing properties p=.045; belief that illness is an opportunity p=.028); consumption of fruits and vegetables (p=.054); consumption of sugary drinks (p=.047); understanding of how to improve their health (p=.055); and frequency of talking about health with their families (p=.057). Participants who did not attend remote sessions did not show significant improvements in these areas. Non-attendees were more likely to be Hispanic and male.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that remote health promotion programs could support the health and well-being of adolescents in underserved communities. Yet, more research is essential to ensure all adolescents can participate.

Keywords: Child and adolescent health; Chronic diseases; Community health; Health communication; Health educators; Nutrition and diet; School health instruction; Remote implementation; School based health promotion

Introduction and Goals

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread cancellations of educational programs, and many adolescents in underserved communities were left with few opportunities for education [1]. Increased inequality in educational opportunities as a result of the pandemic has been well documented [2,3] and must be addressed to prevent a further widening of achievement gaps [4]. Additionally, closures of schools during COVID-19 threaten to further widen the gap in healthcare disparities as many children in poverty rely on school based services for physical and mental health [5]. The stayat- home orders have also resulted in greater anxiety and loneliness in adolescents, highlighting an important role for continuing synchronous group education during this pandemic [6].

There is mounting evidence that online health education courses are favorably perceived by adolescents [7] and that online programs and mobile technology can have positive results on children’s health [8-10]. Yet, we are just beginning to learn about the impact of adapting teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic [11] particularly in economically disadvantaged communities.

The goal of this study was to examine the implementation of a school based, health promotion program adapted for synchronous remote learning and evaluate its impact on adolescent participants from an underserved community. The Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaches Program (SYDCP) is a “train the trainer program” that has been successfully implemented across 25 high schools, in 12 states in the US and in Canada [12]. In this program, health care professionals and trainees teach healthy high school students (grades 9-12) from underserved schools to coach family members with chronic health conditions over a period of 8 weeks through weekly hour-long sessions. The curriculum, based on Kate Lorig’s Adult Chronic Disease Self-Management Model [13], Social Cognitive Theory [14], and peer health coaching [15], is designed to improve health knowledge, communication skills, goal setting, problem solving, and healthy behaviors.

In this study, we evaluated the program’s impact on students who continued with synchronous remote SYDCP classes after in-person classes were cancelled and compared the impact to those who did not attend remote sessions. Here we: 1) analyze program impact on health related beliefs and behaviors between the group of students who completed initial in person SYDCP classes plus the remote classes, conducted over Zoom, versus those students who only attended the initial in person classes; 2) analyze possible factors associated with the likelihood of attending online classes; and 3) explore recommendations for improvement suggested by the students.

Methods

Participants

As part of an ongoing partnership between a San Jose, CA family medicine residency program and a local underserved mid-high poverty level high school (99% non-white, with 56.3% Hispanic or Latino, 35.4% Asian; 63% eligible for free or reduced price lunch), the SYDCP was implemented with 45 high school students as part of their mandatory school schedule starting in February 2020. When stay-athome orders were enacted in March 2020, students at the local high school had received three in-person SYDCP classes. Our research team immediately adapted the SYDCP curriculum for synchronous remote implementation of the remaining 5 classes and invited all participants to join via Zoom.

Procedure

The SYDCP curriculum was adapted to maximize synchronous remote engagement of adolescent participants. These adaptations included adding more online chat opportunities, replacing in-class discussion with chat-based discussion; enabling role plays by asking volunteers to unmute; and asking participants to use objects at home to learn subjects like reading nutrition labels. Once schools were closed down, a member of the SYDCP research team sent emails to each of the students inviting them to join the SYDCP remote Zoom classes and sent them a link to the class each week. The classes were not mandatory as the school was unable to provide resources to all students for mandatory online teaching at the time. The remaining five classes were taught remotely by medical students with a family medicine faculty observer via Zoom, with student participants sheltering at home and accessing course materials on their personal devices.

Students were asked to complete online surveys before starting the program and again immediately after the last class. In addition to demographic characteristics, surveys included 10 questions from the validated Patient Activation Measure (PAM®10) licensed through lnsignia Health 2020 [16]. The PAM measure consists of ten questions rated on a Likert scale of 1-5 that assess knowledge, skills and confidence for self-management of health and healthcare. Individuals with higher scores are at a higher level of activation and demonstrate better health outcomes and healthy experiences; they develop stronger self-management skill, are resilient in times of stress and are also more likely to engage in health behaviors [16]. Other measures include four questions on health mindsets developed in the Stanford Mind and Body Lab [17], four questions on health behaviors (on nutrition, and exercise) developed in the Stanford Mind and Body Lab [18]; and two questions about health empowerment developed by the SYDCP research team. Post intervention surveys also included open ended questions developed by the research team to assess lifestyle changes made as a result of program participation, participants’ attitudes and perceptions about using Zoom to attend remote SYDCP classes, ease and satisfaction with these remote classes, reasons for attending and not attending remote classes, and preferences for delivery of future classes.

Data analysis

Pre-post intervention comparison: We compared changes in participants’ pre and post survey scores for all questions including Patient Activation Measure (PAM®10), health mindsets, health behaviors, and health empowerment. PAM®10 pre and post test scores were calculated for each participant using the algorithm provided by the developer. PAM®10 respondents are given scores ranging from 0-100. Individuals with higher scores are at a higher level of activation and demonstrate better health outcomes and healthcare experiences. They also develop stronger self-management skills, are resilient in times of stress and are also more likely to engage in healthy behaviors [19].

We stratified the data into two groups; participants who attended remote SYDCP classes versus participants who did not, and we conducted T tests to compare means of pre and post-test responses among the two groups using SPSS version 26. We also used basic descriptive statistics to analyze whether participants made lifestyle changes as a result of program participation and what lifestyle changes they made.

Factors associated with attending remote SYDCP classes: We analyzed possible factors associated with the likelihood of attending online classes. We used basic descriptive statistics, and qualitative data analysis of open-ended questions using the same methodology described in the analysis of program satisfaction measures described in the next section.

Program satisfaction and suggestions for improvement: We explored recommendations for improvement suggested by the students by analyzing post survey responses regarding perceptions of Zoom technology/lessons, reasons for attending remote classes, challenges with this form of remote learning, and reasons for inability to attend remote classes. All quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS version 26. We employed an open and axial coding system to conduct qualitative analysis of open-ended questions. Two researchers independently read the responses to open ended questions and identified major themes and sub-themes based on frequency of repetition of key terms [20]. An independent reviewer then corroborated the results and resolved any conflicts in coding.

Results

Of the 45 adolescent participants who completed pre-surveys prior to initiating the SYDCP, 26 completed post surveys after the completion of the SYDCP program. Of those 26, 14 participants attended synchronous remote SYDCP classes, while 12 did not attend any. All students attended the first three in-person classes while still at school. Figure 1 summarizes program participation and data collection.