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Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and are central to human, animal, environmental, and planetary health. They play a particularly important role in the food chain and the production of high-quality, safe, and health-promoting foods, especially fermented foods. This important role is not always apparent to members of the public. Here, we describe Kefir4All, a citizen science project designed to provide the general public with an opportunity to expand their awareness, knowledge, and practical skills relating to microbiology, introduced through the medium of producing fermented food, i.e., milk kefir or water kefir. During the course of Kefir4All, 123 citizen scientists, from second-level school and non-school settings, participated in a study to track changes in the microbial composition of kefirs, by performing and recording details of milk kefir or water kefir fermentations they performed in their homes or schools over the21-week project. At the start of the study, the citizen scientists were provided with milk or water kefir grains to initiate the fermentations. Both types of kefir grain are semi-solid, gelatinous-like substances, composed of exopolysaccharides and proteins, containing a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast. The experimental component of the project was complemented by a number of education and outreach events, including career talks and a site visit to our research center (Kefir Day). At the end of the study, a report was provided to each citizen scientist, in which individualized results of their fermenting activities were detailed. A number of approaches were taken to obtain feedback and other insights from the citizen scientists. Evaluations took place before and after theKefir4All project to gauge the citizen scientist's self-reported awareness, knowledge, and interest in microbiology and fermented foods. Further insights into the level of citizen science participation were gained through assessing the number of samples returned for analysis and the level of participation of the citizen scientists throughout the project. Notably, the survey results revealed a self-reported, increased interest in, and general knowledge of, science among the Kefir4All citizen scientists after undertaking the project and a willingness to take part in further citizen science projects. Ultimately, Kefir4Allrepresents an example of the successful integration of citizen science into existing education and research systems.

The importance of enhancing social and emotional skills in educational settings has gained prominence, with many countries and organizations embracing the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) framework to equip individuals with the tools needed for shaping a self-identity, emotional regulation, goal achievement, empathy, nurturing relationships, and responsible decision-making and overall well-being. In this paper, we aim to connect the globally acknowledged Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning SEL framework with international policies that underscore the importance of social and emotional skills in the school context. To accomplish this goal, we first provide a brief overview of the key components of the SEL framework. Subsequently, we explore two significant educational policies within the European context. The first policy is the World Health Organization Health Promoting Schools initiative. We present its objectives, a WHO-affiliated program example, the promoted and assessed competencies of students, and its results, connecting its framework with the CASEL SEL approach. The second focus is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Study on Social and Emotional Skills, describing its developmental process and the assessment framework. Finally, we describe the alignment of SEL with these European educational policies and illustrate their role in advancing and improving the evaluation of SEL initiatives in educational environments.

The ability to learn new skills as an adult, cognitive stimulation in the ageing process, and a cognitively active lifestyle are of interest to experts in education, public health, and social studies. The game Scrabble, with its enjoyable nature, has gained recognition as an educational resource that facilitates the acquisition and preservation of vocabulary, thereby augmenting both practical and cognitive abilities. In this study, a descriptive quantitative research design was implemented to assess attentional capacity using the Bourdon Attention Test, specifically utilizing the BoPr (Prague Square Modification of the CSAT), within the cohort of Scrabble League e-players and the broader general population. With a focus on promoting cognitive brain health, this study presents a comparison of sustained attention levels between these groups. A sample of N = 60 participants (divided into Scrabble e-players who participate in a league [N = 30], and a comparison group of the general population [N = 30]) underwent a study comparing their levels of attention achieved in the Bourdon test. A significant difference (p = 0.050) was found in their attention span, favoring the league e-players. The results suggest that Scrabble e-games can potentially improve the cognitive well-being and attention of adults and older individuals. However, further investigation is necessary to understand their capabilities fully. Utilizing Scrabble in the realms of adult education, gerontology, and medical practice could be beneficial for enhancing cognitive brain health.

The objectives of this research are to examine the following: (1) the effect of positive psychology on stress management; (2) the ways in which positive psychology can aid in the management of depression; (3) the relationship between academic performance and stress management; (4) the relationship between academic performance and the management of depression; (5) the effect of positive psychology on academic achievement; (6) the indirect relationship between academic performance and stress management; and (7) the indirect relationship between academic performance and the prevention of depression. Supporting students' psychological well-being and academic success requires a comprehensive approach, which this research highlights by focusing on students' individual internal resources and effective stress management. The results of this study can help colleges and universities enhance counseling programs based on positive psychology and better integrate mental health promotion into existing courses. The researcher determined the total number of surveys sent out to 230 students using predetermined criteria and randomly selected them. Convergent validity tests were conducted for approximately 19 indicators of each variable, including exogenous, intervening, and endogenous factors. The SPSS tests that were run before the ANOVA were the following: correlation, t-test, F-test, and coefficient test. After applying inferential analysis with SPSS to the empirical research model, the researcher came to the conclusion that the results were statistically significant. When students, teachers, and administrators work together, we can create a school environment that is safe and supportive, which in turn improves students' health, happiness, and academic performance.

As part of developing the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension 4-H Common Measures system, we created resources for communicating results to stakeholders with research-based visual tools. We outline the creation of two tools that may be useful to CE personnel to use evaluation findings to better "tell their story" to a variety of stakeholders. Effectively telling this story often means addressing the question "so what?". These tools, 1) Outcome Linkages and 2) Infographics can translate the program's "so what?" in easily interpretable and visually engaging ways. Step by step processes are reviewed to guide creation and use of both tools.

A school-based nutrition education intervention was implemented with second and third graders who used their functional health literacy skills of reading, writing, and speaking to learn about the MyPlate food model from the United States Department of Agriculture. The pretest-posttest intervention determined if children had ever seen the MyPlate food picture and if children participated in grocery shopping and meal making events with their family at home. Interactive health literacy accounted for the conversations that children had with their teachers about food and nutrition when learning about the MyPlate food model and when preparing three recipes over three days in the school classroom. Interactive health literacy strategies also included children's ability to interact and learn about the MyPlate food model as a valid and reliable print and electronic material associated with meal planning. Implications and guidelines for teachers and parents are discussed for advancing the need for and understanding of functional and interactive health literacy for elementary children in the United States.

Farmers face unique occupational and interpersonal stressors that increase risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes. To educate farmers and their families about these risks, one state's Family and Consumer Sciences faculty partnered with Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty with input from county agents to develop a series of online educational programs that were delivered as part of the state Agricultural Enhancement Program. Twenty-eight participants completed the pilot project and feedback surveys. Lessons learned include the need to have speakers from farming backgrounds, incorporate health topics that emphasize the connection with farming, and to include engaging visuals.

The "health promoting universities" strategy has gained popularity and a presence in the higher education system, particularly in universities. It is imperative for higher education establishments to prioritize the promotion of health within their student body and academic community. By safeguarding and boosting students' wellbeing, a strategy centered on encouraging healthy lifestyles has the potential to boost the university's contribution to health improvement and offer significant value to the community. Universities have the power to improve health promotion through community service and to make policies in this area through research and teaching. In order to investigate student behavior in relation to the standard aspects of the health-promoting lifestyle profile, this project will undertake an intervention study involving 150 students with the goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle. A pretest and post-test control group design was employed in this investigation. The health-promoting lifestyle standard profile II questionnaire was the research instrument, and descriptive statistics and inference were employed for analysis at the 0.05 significant level. The outcomes demonstrated a noteworthy impact on the implemented measures. This study's findings indicated that interventions in learning environments successfully raised student behavior linked to a healthy lifestyle and its components.

Purpose: This project explains how students in a graduate-level health literacy and advocacy course can benefit from the design and development of a digital literacy data visualization. Additionally, this study seeks to look into the perceived worth of developing a lesson on digital literacy, health literacy, and data visualization to assist students in fulfilling the duties of Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®). Methods: The pilot assignment and survey measured competencies based on CHES® Areas of Responsibility: Area IV: Evaluation and Research. Area VI: Communication. Graduate-level students enrolled in the courses (n = 23) were evaluated in the winter semester and spring quarter of 2023. Students responded to questions rating their proficiency and learning experience while participating in a digital literacy and health literacy assignment. Results: Fourteen students (61%) across the two levels started the survey. Ten students (44%) fully completed the survey. A majority of the students reported that at the conclusion of the digital literacy and data visualization assignment, they had a fundamental awareness (basic knowledge) of 10 of the 12 questions. Conclusions: Insight into the degree of proficiency in using data visualization was supplied by the benefit of developing a digital literacy, health literacy, and data visualization course to assist students in meeting the CHES® areas of responsibilities. Recommendations: Since the vast majority of people now receive information through digital media, public health educators must have the communication and technological skills necessary to disseminate fact-based knowledge that may help lessen health literacy access disparities.

Over the past decade there has been an increase in K-12 schools integrating yoga and mindfulness as a tool for improving children's overall well-being. However, one of the main barriers to effectively providing such mechanisms in the classroom is teachers 'self-efficacy and preparation to implement children's yoga. To address this barrier the present study integrated a yoga curriculum grounded in developmentally appropriate practices for children's yoga as part of a required wellness integration course in a teacher education program. A pre- and post- survey was administered to preservice classroom teachers (PCTs) to determine the impact of the yoga curriculum intervention on PCTs self-efficacy, experience, and value. Findings revealed that PCTs self-efficacy significantly increased pre- to post-intervention, while experience and value increased at more moderate levels. These findings suggest that PCTs may be more effective, willing, and able to integrate children's yoga into the classroom when provided opportunities to participate in developmentally appropriate yoga practices embedded in teacher preparation coursework.

Social network sites, most notably Facebook, have fundamentally transformed the way information is transferred, received, and shared by individuals and organisations. This article explores the diverse contexts in which Facebook is utilised as a knowledge-sharing instrument, along with the key challenges encountered in adopting Facebook as a knowledge-sharing instrument. It also indicates the gaps in adopting Facebook as a knowledge-sharing instrument. In a systematic literature review, 400 articles accomplishing the research objectives were identified. The findings revealed that Facebook can be used in different contexts. Greater awareness of Facebook's versatility as a platform for knowledge sharing across various domains is recommended. This article also advises that the challenges related to cost, time investment and technical expertise be addressed, and emphasises the need for education and training.

Before the EdD program through UC Davis, my own decisions and thinking process perpetuated an inequitable system that seemed to be working to support and uplift marginalized communities. When beginning my personal journey through the doctoral program and throughout the pandemic, there were epiphanies that awakened me to new institutional versions that empowered my ways of approaching education and leading future generations to question, early and often, the systems that were supposed to increase their ability to become leaders themselves. The concluding research recommendations support the implementation of culturally sustaining pedagogical practices to increase authentic historically marginalized student self-expression and empowerment of students and community. This work is done through understanding the priorities of the community, offering transparency, communicating, and listening while promoting health and safety as a means of cariño. Communicating that our priorities on site are children first, rather than test scores and attendance percentages, I seek creative means to empower our young scholars to bridge a gap between site and community and authentically celebrate the diversity on our campus.

Many post-secondary institutions contain organizational values, which describe enduring beliefs that support strategic priorities and guide members of an organization. Relatedly, the adoption of health-promoting frameworks calls on embedding health within post-secondary institutions' core values. The study objective was to map Canada's post-secondary values to determine how health is integrated within value statements. Mixed methods were used to map institutional values, contextualize well-being, and identify thematic messages of health-related content contained within values. Most institutions espoused values (n = 64, 71%), yet only a small proportion of these institutions espoused health within their value statements (n = 7, 11%). Qualitative analysis revealed three thematic messages: (i) health as a descriptor for other institutional priorities, (ii) wellness broadly acknowledged or embedded within non-health values, and (iii) well-being as a core value or commitment. These novel findings suggest more institutions must embed health as a core value to demonstrate institutional commitment.

Teachers are at high risk of voice disorders due to the heavy vocal demand of their profession as well as diverse classroom conditions that can stress the voice. Healthy vocal hygiene practices reduce this risk, but many teachers lack knowledge in these areas or have misconceptions about ways to improve their vocal health. This study aimed to identify knowledge deficits among teachers, and directly address topics with poorest performance to better generate vocal health resources for teachers and improve their overall vocal health.

Each August, Sugpiaq Elders, community members, and educators gather in Cape Alitak to host Akhiok Kids Camp, a week-long culture camp that provides a space for local Sugpiaq youth to learn and carry forward traditional lifeways and promotes youth's self-esteem, identity, and healthy choices. This article traces the legacy of the camp and outlines its ongoing vision and curriculum, including the Indigenous values and principles of education that guide camp activities. Of particular focus is the role of camp in fostering Sugpiaq youth's sense of connectedness to their homelands, waters, community, and culture, a focus that promotes healing, cultural resurgence, and wellbeing for Sugpiaq youth. This description of Akhiok Kids Camp highlights the valuable role that culture camps play in turning Indigenous youth toward the brilliance of their lands and lifeways, and the importance of respecting the knowledge and leadership of Indigenous families in this work.

There is a clear need for highly competent health sciences experts. No instrument currently exists for assessing the generic competences of health sciences students. The aim of this study is to develop and psychometrically test the Health sciences Generic Competence (HealthGenericCom) instrument. The instrument development four step process has been conducted with a cross-sectional study design and according to the COSMIN guidelines. Face and content validity was tested by 13 experts, structural validity was tested with exploratory factor analysis, and internal consistency was evaluated by calculating Cronbach's alpha. The structural validity was tested using data from Finnish health sciences students (n=276). The content validity index of the whole HealthGenericCom instrument was 1 for relevance and for clarity. Using exploratory factor analysis a model of eight factors (with 88 items) was created: 1) competence in leadership, administration, and finance; 2) competence in people-centred guidance; 3) competence in health promotion; 4) competence in evidence-based practice; 5) digital competence; 6) competence in work well-being and self-management; 7) competence in collaboration and problem-solving; and 8) competence in societal interaction. The HealthGenericCom was shown to be valid and reliable and provides an evidence-based conceptual framework that can be used in developing curriculums and competence management.

4-H academics responded to the COVID pandemic by rapidly adapting CDC and other resources for virtual delivery. A statewide epidemiology project was taught to 48 youth with the goal of minimizing fears and confusion, increasing prevention measures, leveraging current topics for education, and bolstering the social-emotional health of youth participants. Results indicated that youth enjoyed the project and adopted behaviors to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as increased mask-wearing.

This study investigates the patterns of promoting physical activity among residents in Mueang District, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand. It explores the impact of contemporary societal shifts, such as increased reliance on technology and decreased physical labor, on public health. The research identifies the rise of chronic diseases due to lifestyle changes and the need for preventive strategies emphasizing physical activity. Utilizing a questionnaire, the study analyzes residents' knowledge, awareness, motivation, and practices regarding health promotion through physical exercise. The findings reveal high general knowledge and awareness of health benefits but low levels of physical activity practice, influenced by lifestyle and societal changes. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored health promotion strategies and the role of digital platforms in enhancing physical activity awareness and participation. This research contributes to understanding effective methods to promote physical activity and addresses the health challenges faced by the local population, promoting sustainable physical and mental health.

Behaviour change communication (BCC) remains a central component of the interventions used in the fight against malaria in Ghana. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness. This study evaluated the effects of BCC strategies on knowledge (symptoms, causes and prevention) and overall knowledge of malaria among Ghanaian women aged 15-49 years. The propensity score matching (PSM) approach and logistic regression were used to analyse data from the 2016 edition of the Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS). Women who participated in community-level education or heard/saw media messages on malaria, or both, had significantly more knowledge of the disease than women who lacked access to any of these mediums of communication. The effect of these strategies on women's overall knowledge of malaria is about 2% to 4% and is higher on their knowledge of the symptoms (3% to 6%) and prevention (2% to 4%) than the causes (2%). The combined effects of both mediums of communication are relatively higher than the effect of either of them as a single medium of communication. Further analysis showed that improved knowledge of the disease is associated with higher preventive measures taken by women for themselves and for their children. The results are more significant in rural and poor households than in urban and non-poor households. These findings underscore the need for the Ministry of Health and its partner institutions to adopt an innovative approach which combines the two strategies in intensively educating Ghanaians, and women in particular, on the symptoms and prevention of malaria, giving due cognisance to households' socioeconomic status and geographical location.

The promotion of healthy aging has become a priority in most parts of the world and should be promoted at all ages. However, the baseline training of health and social professionals is currently not adequately tailored to these challenges. This paper reports the results of a Delphi study conducted to reach expert agreement about health and social professionals' competencies to promote healthy aging throughout the lifespan within the SIENHA project. Materials and methods: This study was developed following the CREDES standards. The initial version of the competence framework was based on the results of a scoping review and following the CanMEDS model. The expert panel consisted of a purposive sample of twenty-two experts in healthy aging with diverse academic and clinical backgrounds, fields and years of expertise from seven European countries. Agreement was reached after three rounds. The final framework consisted of a set of 18 key competencies and 80 enabling competencies distributed across six domains. The SIENHA competence framework for healthy aging may help students and educators enrich their learning and the academic content of their subjects and/or programs and incentivize innovation.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of an educational intervention on middle-aged women's knowledge and behaviour regarding various aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Design: Quasi-experimental study involving 150 middle-aged women (divided into experimental and control groups). Setting: Participants were selected from health centres of Tehran, Iran. Method: Data collection included demographic information, knowledge of a healthy lifestyle and healthy lifestyle behaviour. Participants in both the intervention and control groups completed the questionnaires before and 2 months after the educational intervention. The intervention involved 10 minutes of face-to-face training followed by distribution of training booklets provided by the Ministry of Health in Iran. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Results: Within the intervention group, significant differences were observed in total healthy lifestyle knowledge and subscales for physical activity knowledge, anthropometry knowledge, healthy diet knowledge, and smoking knowledge, between the pre- and post-intervention periods. Other than for smoking behaviour, there was no significant difference in healthy behaviours pre- and post-intervention for the experimental and also the control group. Conclusion: While there was an increase in knowledge about healthy lifestyles following the intervention, this knowledge increase was not associated with a change in healthy lifestyle behaviours. Attention should therefore be given to other influences including socio-economic factors, mental health status, environmental factors, cultural influences, duration of the intervention and psychological factors if changes in healthy behaviour are to be achieved

Objective: Schools and the education system are powerful tools for cultivating healthy lifestyles. This research focuses on characterising the factors contributing to the development of health-promoting schools in Israel, and understanding how schools can offer a framework for improving students' health. Fullan's triple change model with its focus on three phases in the change process in schools -- the initiation phase, the implementation phase and the institutionalisation phase -- served as a framework for analysis. Design and setting: This qualitative-constructivist study involved the analysis of data collected from 26 elementary school principals in Israel, 15 of whom belonged to the health promotion school network (HPSN) and 11 who did not. In addition, 10 health promotion leaders from within the schools were interviewed. Methods: Data collection took place by means of semi-structured interviews. in which the questions asked referred to the three phases identified in Fullan's process of change model. We analysed the data using thematic content analysis. Results: Each identified theme was associated with one of the phases proposed in Fullan's model of change. The "initiation" phase included collaboration with key stakeholders, principals' personal commitment, and dissemination of ideas through personal connections. The "implementation" phase included gaining access to appropriate tools and materials, action to deal with barriers to change, and the creation of a holistic health promotion environment. The "institutionalisation" phase included the development of administrative strategies such as adherence to routines, the inclusion of regular events in the school calendar, and the allocation of time frames for the activities undertaken. Conclusion: Fullan's model proved useful in analysing efforts to develop health-promoting schools. The model signalled the importance of using a structured approach throughout the institutionalisation phase in a manner attuned to the unique nature of the school. Alongside identifying key factors that support assimilation, it is crucial to assess their integration into the school culture. The school principal's role is critical throughout all the phases of the development process.

Introduction: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major challenge for countries, regardless of their level of development. Social branding is an emerging approach to health promotion for NCD prevention. In this paper, the process of social branding is documented as a case study to help researchers develop similar kinds of interventions in the settings in which they work. Methods: The process of developing a social brand is documented through conversations with the project team, observations in the field, interaction with community local members, and information gathered through photographs, videos and newspaper clippings. Results: The social brand focused upon in this study was named the "Aarogyachi Vaari" (Health Pilgrimage) inspired by the "Pandrapur Wari," a religious pilgrimage undertaken in the state of Maharashtra, India. Various stakeholders from self-help groups, panchayat raj institutions and schools from the local village collaborated successfully to implement the health event in a manner similar to the way in which diverse religious groups come together for the Pandrapur Wari religious pilgrimage. The Aarogyachi Vaari took the form of a strategically planned health event consisting of various health promotion stalls, many developed by local villagers themselves. The organisation of the event was aided by resource mobilisation within the local community. Discussion: Social branding can be an effective tool for health promotion in community settings. Studying people's cultural preferences and what makes them feel connected and excited can lay the foundations for the creation of a social brand that reflects their choices and helps them take up healthy behaviours on their own. It is possible to mobilise a community for health through social branding that is culturally relevant and connected to the interests and priorities of local people.

Objective: Sleep deprivation is common among children and schools are ideal settings in which to influence children's sleep. Children spend a significant amount of time at school during key developmental periods, and programmes that influence students' well-being also benefit academic achievement. Comprehensive School Health (CSH) is an approach that prioritises school, home and community partnerships by supporting the development of health behaviours. However, sleep is often unaddressed in the school environment. The objective of this study was to integrate multiple partner perspectives to inform how to strengthen school-based sleep promotion using a CSH approach. Design: A secondary qualitative analysis of student aged 9-11 (n = 45), parent/guardian (n = 24) and teacher (n = 19) interviews from participants representing elementary (Kindergarten -Grade 6) schools and communities in Alberta, Canada was conducted. Data were examined using an a priori framework in alignment with the four components of the CSH approach: social and physical environment, teaching and learning, policy and partnerships and services. Inductive content analysis was used to develop categories followed by subthemes within each CSH component. Results: Subthemes identified within each component were as follows: social and physical environment (culture of healthy sleep habits; students influence each other); teaching and learning (formally integrate sleep-specific learning into curricula; school, teacher and parents/guardian collaboration); policy (sleep-positive classroom policies) and partnerships and services (community partnerships; school-home collaboration). Conclusion: This research identifies recommendations from student, parent/guardian and teacher interviews to inform and strengthen school-based sleep promotion when taking a CSH approach. Findings can support school partner efforts to foster a school culture (or ethos) of healthy sleep habits leading to improvements in student sleep behaviours.

Background: Rural populations in the USA demonstrate a high degree of vaccine hesitancy, particularly surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Objectives: Following the successful implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign with a rural-based health system in New York state, the goal of this project was to develop a large community-academic partnership with multiple rural-based community organisations to implement an additional COVID-19 vaccination campaign tailored to rural audiences. Methods: Campaign materials were created and refined with several collaborators across multiple ruralbased hospitals, health centres and community organisations. Campaign effectiveness was examined through an analysis of New York state vaccination data. Lessons learned: This project shows that larger community-academic partnerships involving multiple organisations can be achieved and utilised to address complex public health issues such as vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: Larger and longer-term community-academic partnerships can be leveraged to combat a wide range of public health issues and enable a personalised focus on specific communities.

Objective: As an increasing number of children are identified as insufficiently physically active, the school environment has been targeted for efforts to promote physical activity (PA) among inactive children. While research has highlighted teachers' role in promoting generic school-based daily PA, less is known about the early childhood education teachers' experiences of physically inactive children and the strategies they use to promote PA. This study's aim was to explore early childhood education teachers in Sweden's experiences of physically inactive children and their strategies to promote PA among members of this group in their everyday school settings. Design: Qualitative interview study. Setting: Four small municipalities in Midwest Sweden. Method: Ten teachers working in early childhood education settings participated in individual semistructured interviews. Data were analysed with a focus on teacher agency and the social, material and cultural resources teachers used to promote PA. Result: Findings indicated that teachers shoulder the worry and unarticulated responsibility for inactive children. This resulted in their use of strategies that varied and which were largely subjective in character. At the same time, teachers expressed how their agency was limited by insufficient resources. Conclusion: Teachers used social, material and cultural resources to promote PA, but their strategies were not informed by evidence or formal guidelines. None of the resources they used were specifically designed for inactive children. Instead, teachers used general resources which they adapted to inactive children's interests and needs.

Embedding musicians' occupational health training in music education curricula is widely recommended due to the well-documented high prevalence of performance-related health problems (PRHPs) among musicians across their lifespan. A scoping review was conducted to examine the range of evidence from implementations of musicians' health education programs, regarding the maintenance of hearing, musculoskeletal, psychological, and vocal health, as well as injury prevention strategies to minimize the risk of PRHP. Eligible sources of evidence included published and unpublished studies reporting occupational health education programs (which may have incorporated information on physical or psychological health, exercise, or somatic movement training) implemented with pre-tertiary and tertiary music students and teachers. Studies reporting stand-alone psychological health education were excluded. Key characteristics from included studies were extracted and charted. Data charts outline commonalities across the reported results, including physical, psychological, educational, and behavioral change outcome measures. Out of 46 records included for data extraction, 35 reported programs with tertiary-aged music students, seven reported programs with pre-tertiary-aged music students, two reported programs with music teachers, and two reported systematic reviews. Reported benefits from this research with both pre-tertiary and tertiary music students suggest that musicians' health education and injury prevention strategies reduce self-reported playing-related pain and music performance anxiety. However, future implementation studies need to address identified challenges such as effective behavior change and the enablers and barriers to the long-term adoption of strategies for optimal music performance and health outcomes. This review highlights the need for further research into designing and embedding musicians' health education into all music training settings, including more implementations with pre-tertiary music students, as well as training to support the professional development needs of instrumental and vocal teachers.

Objectives: Community sites, including schools, are important settings for interventions to promote children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. A central provision to support mental health in the UK is school- and community-based counselling services. However, the evidence-base for school counselling services is limited by weak evaluation designs, lack of understanding of different counselling approaches in use, and a failure to conceptualise counselling services as part of a wider complex system. To address the last point, this article takes a complex system-focused perspective to explore how a 'system disruption', that is counselling service implementation, can be optimised in the Welsh education system. Design: The approach used in this study is a mixed-method qualitative design. Setting: Participants were recruited from school and community settings. They included children and young people, parents, carers, school staff, counsellors and stakeholders from health and education. Method: Consultations, key system stakeholder interviews and school case studies were conducted. All stakeholders were asked about their experiences of local authority-funded school- and community-based counselling services in Wales. Interview and consultation data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Data converged into three main themes focusing on the specifics of counselling sessions, counselling services as part of universal mental health provision and a whole education system approach. These three themes are brought together into a complex systems-focused model of an optimised school- and community-based counselling service. Conclusion: The model offers an opportunity to address issues with current counselling services in Wales and improve outcomes and sustainability by increasing the likelihood they will become embedded in the whole education system.

Objectives: More than 2.5 million middle and high school students in the United States reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2022. With continued curiosity and initiation of e-cigarette use among youth, it is critical to explore new and innovative ways to communicate about the dangers of e-cigarettes. The purpose of this study was to determine youth never-user and ever-user interpretations of a novel, educational comic book, 'The Villainous Vape'. Method: A 43-question survey was distributed to a convenience sample of middle and high school students across Kentucky. Results: Of the 76 respondents, 85.5% (n = 65) reported having never using e-cigarettes and 14.5% (n = 11) reported having tried e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. Never-users were more likely to say that the comic book would be an effective method of e-cigarette education for their peers, compared with ever-users. In addition, never-users were more likely to report that the comic book deterred them from using e-cigarettes. Conclusion: Further research is needed to determine how perceptions of story-based education through novel comics affect young people's health decisions regarding e-cigarette use.

Wellbeing education (WE) is increasingly offered among secondary schools internationally to promote the physical, social, emotional and mental health of young people. Current and emerging evidence proposes that scope exists for the enhancement of universal WE, and that arts-based approaches have significant potential for school programmes in enhancing the effectiveness of WE. This sits alongside a growing body of international literature that connects arts engagement with positive mental wellbeing across age groups. Existing research also shows that the evaluation of the goals, pedagogy and student engagement within WE from the perspectives of teachers is uncommon. To this end, this qualitative research investigated teacher perspectives on the potential for arts-based WE. Through an asynchronous group interview, 10 Australian secondary school arts teachers with expertise in a variety of visual and performing arts education reflected on current WE in light of their arts teaching practice, exploring possibilities for enhancement through art-based practices. Thematic analysis using a socio-ecological framework reveals strong support for arts-based WE, noting positive potential for arts engagement to facilitate increased teacher and student autonomy, relationship building, safe and inclusive environments, and enjoyable, embodied learning within WE.

There is a critical need to address educator health and well-being, yet only an average of 31% of schools offer workplace health and wellness promotion programs. As part of the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace -- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health® through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- the Total Teacher Health (TTH) research project is comprised of a multidisciplinary team (including school psychologists, occupational psychologists, epidemiologists, and public health scientists) with the goal of understanding and addressing educator stress and workplace health and safety. The TTH team has developed the Educator Well-Being Program (EWP), which aims to improve educators' well-being through a participatory approach that addresses the root causes of poor well-being and creates changes from within the school. The EWP is currently being implemented and evaluated as part of a 5-year research grant in elementary schools within two school districts in Connecticut. Leveraging their distinctive proficiency and capabilities, school psychologists are ideally positioned to spearhead and facilitate the EWP effectively. Though the EWP has demonstrated improvements within the TTH intervention schools, the fact that school psychologists face their own well-being issues should not be minimized. Effective communication, clear expectations, regular feedback, and cultivating an inclusive environment are components of the EWP that have alleviated relational barriers.

Background: Religious institutions play a crucial role in health promotion and hold significant influence in the public health field. Aim: The aim of this review is to examine outcomes of health-promoting interventions involving the use of mosques as the intervention venue, its role in promoting health behavior change, and the role of theory in each intervention. Methods: A scoping review was conducted across 17 databases for relevant publications published up to and including August 2023 that involved the use of mosques as the intervention venue. Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Results: The studies featured a wide range of interventions. However, only eight of these studies integrated theoretical frameworks into their approaches, indicating a need for more structured guidance in this field. These theoretical frameworks included Participatory Action Research (PAR), the theory of planned behavior, behavior-change constructs, the patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) framework, and prolonged exposure techniques within Islamic principles. The review identified three main health-focused intervention categories: mental health, prevention, and communication, each providing valuable insights into initiatives within Muslim communities. Conclusions: This review underscores the significance of inclusive and culturally sensitive health interventions, emphasizing the effectiveness of faith-based approaches in improving health outcomes, promoting positive health behaviors, and addressing communication and cultural barriers. The reviews findings stress the need for further research that incorporates theoretical frameworks and tailored interventions to meet the specific cultural needs of these communities, ultimately contributing to enhanced well-being within them.

Background: Preadolescents, who are in a transitional phase of development, may experience higher exposure to heterosexual interactions while facing higher risks regarding misinformation in sexual knowledge and unsafe engagement in sexual activities. There is a deficiency in the availability of qualified educators and age-appropriate teaching materials for sexuality education in China. Methods: We implemented an animation-based comprehensive sexuality education package among preadolescents aged 9 to 12 years from eight schools in Anhui, China. The first round of intervention included 1,835 participants, lasting 2 months from September to November 2020. A total of 374 participants, accounting for 52% of the intervention group, received a second round of intervention in September 2021. Participants completed immediate follow-up assessment and 1-year follow-up assessment to assess changes in their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and other outcomes. Propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis were performed to determine the short- and long-term impacts. Results: Significant improvements were observed for both sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes in the immediate follow-up. There was no significant effect on pornography-seeking behavior or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse. After 1 year, the effect was sustained for sexual knowledge, but slightly declined for sexual attitudes. The second intervention significantly improved sexual knowledge; however, no significant change in sexual attitudes, pornography-seeking behavior, or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse was observed. Conclusions: Our comprehensive sexuality education package was effective in improving sexual knowledge both immediately and 1 year after the intervention. Repeated intervention can be an effective strategy for promoting preadolescent health development regarding comprehensive sexuality education.

The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) has supported adult learning for over 120 years. Participating in adult learning brings a range of benefits for individuals and communities. These go much wider than solely education benefits and include better health, increased participation in community activities, and increased confidence and critical thinking, but are not always recognised and rewarded within the funding system. If organisations such as the WEA were better recognised as charities with a social justice mission then their impact could be greater still. National and regional policymakers are encouraged to recognise adult learning as a more integral part of strategies tackling inequality and building stronger communities.

Epidemiological research over the past two decades has highlighted substance use disparities that affect Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth, and the lack of effective approaches to address such disparities (Okamoto et al. in Asian American Journal of Psychology 10(3):239-248, 2019). The Ho'ouna Pono curriculum is a culturally grounded, teacher-implemented, video-enhanced substance use prevention program that has demonstrated efficacy in rural Hawai?i in a large-scale trial (Okamoto in Asian American Journal of Psychology 10(3):239-248, 2019). Despite its potential to ameliorate health disparities and address youth substance use, prevention programs such as Ho'ouna Pono have been poorly disseminated and implemented across Hawai?i, raising the question: "Why are effective prevention programs not used in communities that most need them?" The present study used concept mapping to understand previously identified implementation barriers and develop implementation strategies for Ho'ouna Pono. Seven Hawai?i Department of Education (HIDOE) educational leaders and administrators sorted Ho'ouna Pono implementation barriers (e.g., "There is a lack of HIDOE funding to support prevention curricula"), named concepts, and rated barriers' perceived impact and difficulty. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis yielded a five-cluster solution: (1) Kumu (Hawaiian word for teacher) Controlled, (2) School Level Buy-in, (3) Curriculum, (4) Student Attitudes + Mindsets (Family + Community), and (5) Policy. Participant ratings identified eight high-impact and low-difficulty barriers. Discussion revealed important intersections among barriers indicating the need for coordinated and cross-level implementation strategies to support Ho'ouna Pono sustainment. Brainstormed implementation strategies using participants' own language highlighted a need for participatory methods in school settings to bidirectionally share ways to best sustain substance use prevention programs.

Priority-setting is a collective responsibility centred around inclusive engagement and alignment with the needs and desired outcomes of the community. In this study, we leveraged the collective expertise of stakeholders from the child and family service system, to identify priorities for supporting the health, education and wellbeing of children and families living in Logan, Queensland. A pragmatic approach combining a modified nominal group technique and consensus methodology was undertaken. Key system factors were identified and consolidated into 10 priority areas, which were ranked via an online questionnaire. The top three priority areas were identified by the service system as (i) early family and child support programs, (ii) support and resourcing of existing services, and (iii) recognition and support of a diverse community. These results present an opportunity to leverage the local knowledge and expertise of the service system to design solutions that address the greatest challenges for children and families in place.

In response to the growing awareness of trauma and its impact on student learning, schools across the country are implementing trauma-sensitive practices. Authors Maia Cucchiara and Mary Beth Hays describe an approach to trauma sensitivity in schools: the creation of restoration rooms, spaces designed to help students (and adults) return to a state of regulation. Restoration rooms are not for disciplining students. Instead, they are spaces equipped with fidget toys, soft carpets and cushions, flexible seating, and other materials to promote regulation. Schools can use these spaces as part of larger efforts to respond to student and staff trauma and promote overall wellness.

Background: Culinary nutrition education can support improved diet-related health and wellbeing. This pre-post pilot study aimed to assess feasibility and acceptability of an eight-session culinary nutrition programme, the Food and Lifestyle Information Programme (FLIP), for adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disability. A secondary aim was to evaluate preliminary programme effectiveness. Method: Participants were recruited through a disability service provider. Feasibility measures were: recruitment and retention; implementation; engagement and participation; adverse outcomes; and feasibility of outcome measures. Acceptability was assessed using an interactive process evaluation. Effectiveness measures included cooking frequency, cooking and food skill confidence and diet quality. Results: Six of eight participants completed the intervention with high attendance and programme engagement. FLIP was well received by participants and support workers. No adverse outcomes occurred. Diet quality was feasible to assess. Conclusions: Findings can inform content, delivery and evaluation of future culinary nutrition programmes for adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disability.

Background: It is vital to improve the mental health (MH) of young people in Hong Kong, where the suicide rate has nearly doubled among those aged 15-29 years since 2014. This multi-method evaluation aimed to assess Coolminds, which promoted MH literacy by engaging students, parents, and educators in secondary schools in Hong Kong. Methods: Students, parents, and teachers completed self-report measures before and after attending workshops aimed at raising MH literacy. Pre- and post-survey data were collected between November 2021 and August 2022. Qualitative data from participant feedback and a focus group interview with Coolminds staff were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. Results: The final dataset included 2903 students, 395 parents, and 325 educators from 52 schools. Only 3 schools had engagement with all 3 key groups. Significant improvements in MH knowledge were observed after the Coolminds workshops for all 3 groups. Qualitative analysis identified a reactive approach to MH issues, and bureaucratic and logistical challenges as barriers to implementation. Conclusion: Findings support the effectiveness of the Coolminds curriculum in improving MH literacy for each group and the demand for MH promotions in school settings. The implementation challenges indicate the need for future initiatives to better align with local needs and practices.

Background: Despite emerging evidence for the effectiveness of school-based suicide prevention programmes worldwide, there are few being implemented in the United Kingdom, and their social validity (i.e., the feasibility, acceptability, and utility) is not yet known. Aims: We aimed to conduct a scoping study to determine: (1) the social validity and potential benefits of school-based suicide prevention interventions, (2) the perceived need for such interventions, and (3) barriers and facilitators to implementation. Sample and Methods: A total of 46 participants took part. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mental health professionals (N = 8), school staff (N = 8), and parents whose children had experienced suicidal ideation/behaviours (N = 3) in England. Focus groups were also completed with children and young people (N = 27) aged 15-18 across three state secondary schools. Data were analysed using thematic framework analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) the need for and importance of suicide prevention in children and young people, (2) schools as a setting for delivery, and (3) key components of suicide prevention programmes. Conclusions: Participants overwhelmingly agreed that there is a need for a greater and more consistent emphasis on school-based suicide prevention. School appears to be an acceptable location for suicide prevention, and participants felt discussions about suicide should begin at the start of secondary school. However, there are potential barriers that need to be considered, including tailoring for neurodiversity, challenging cultural/family beliefs and stigma, managing personal experiences of suicidal thoughts or previous bereavement from suicide, and a lack of existing training for school staff.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about disruptions in healthcare for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is a need to explore ways to promote proactive healthcare and better prepare individuals for healthcare encounters. Methods: A co-designed tool, the COVID Check-in Tool, was introduced as part of a virtual health education programme to encourage proactive healthcare. Implementation of this Health Check-in was evaluated with 36 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 96 family caregivers who completed the programme using surveys, structured interviews and focus groups. Findings: Forty-four percent of participants engaged in the Health Check-in process, resulting in many reported benefits for those who participated. However, there were also barriers to initiating the Check-in, along with challenges using the COVID Check-in Tool, according to both the adults with disabilities who were interviewed and the family caregivers. Conclusions: The study underscores the importance of considering ways to integrate tools into routine healthcare practices, to facilitate improved healthcare delivery for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during pandemic recovery efforts. As well, involving people with lived experience in the development and implementation of healthcare resources is critical.

Kids SIP"smart"ER is a 6-month behavioral and health literacy intervention effective at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among middle school students and their caregivers in the rural Appalachian region. This exploratory mixed methods study utilized a convergent parallel design to assess participant acceptability of a school-based curriculum for students and a text messaging program for caregivers. Acceptability was assessed using surveys (873 students and 453 caregivers), five focus groups (34 students) and telephone interviews (22 caregivers). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were content coded. On a 5-point scale, average quantitative survey acceptability ratings ranged from 2.7 to 3.3 among three student-rated questions and 4.1 to 4.2 among four caregiver-rated questions. Qualitative focus group findings suggested that students preferred curricular activities that were hands-on and involved social interaction, while caregiver interview results showed high acceptability of the text messaging program's design, including usability, content messages and personalization. Students and caregivers reported similar program benefits: increased knowledge of SSBs and health risks, increased awareness of SSB behaviors and support to make beverage behavior changes. Results from this study can be used to understand Kids SIP"smart"ER's effectiveness data, communicate the intervention's acceptability with stakeholders and plan for future implementation studies.

Multi-level, place-based interventions have proven effective at promoting a range of health behaviors, including tobacco control and discouraging the uptake of tobacco products. This paper describes the implementation and impact of a 3-year, multi-level tobacco prevention and control program at a community-college minority-serving institution (MSI) on the Texas Gulf Coast within the context of a broader multi-sector, cross-functional health coalition. The intervention studied included a tobacco-free policy, a large-scale communication campaign highlighting parts of the intervention and prevention and cessation resources. The intervention was bolstered by the support of a community-led Steering Committee and tobacco control experts. Results from the first 3 years of implementation show that tobacco-free policies were largely supported by community members, awareness of the policy increased over time, and tobacco prevention and cessation resources were successfully embedded into campus norms. This multi-component approach shows how a community college was able to effectively reach students and staff on their campus to increase awareness of both the campus tobacco-free policy and the availability of tobacco prevention and cessation resources. Additionally, it also offers lessons for future tobacco prevention and control work in higher education.