Attitudes and Satisfaction of Secondary-school Students in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County regarding the Introduction of Health Education in Schools

Posljednjih je godina Zdravstveni odgoj jedna od najaktualnijih tema u odgoju i obrazovanju. Uveden je u osnovne i srednje škole 2012. godine kroz četiri modula: Živjeti zdravo, Prevencija ovisnosti, Prevencija nasilničkog ponašanja te Spolna/rodna ravnopravnost i odgovorno spolno ponašanje. Autori su posebno konstruiranom anketom anonimno ispitali stavove i zadovoljstvo učenika srednjih škola uvođenjem zdravstvenog odgoja. Za istraživanje je dobivena suglasnost etičkih povjerenstva svih škola kao i pismena suglasnost roditelja maloljetnih ispitanika. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 304 učenika iz Medicinske, Komercijalne i trgovačke škole, Turističko-ugostiteljske škole i Gimnazije Bjelovar, 215 djevojaka i 89 mladića, prosječne životne dobi 17,02 godine, uglavnom vrlo dobrog školskog uspjeha. Većina živi s roditeljima, njih 268 (94,1%), podjednako u urbanim i ruralnim mjestima. Roditelji uglavnom imaju završenu srednju školu. Na Likertovoj skali 1-5, s tim da je ocjena 1 najniža a ocjena 5 najviša za ponuđene tvrdnje, ocjenom 3,73 ocjenjuju potrebu za uvođenjem Zdravstvenog odgoja u škole, a ocjenom 3,76 sadržaj modula. Modul Živjeti zdravo ocjenjuju ocjenom 3,68, Prevenciju nasilničkog ponašanja 3,68, Prevenciju ovisnosti 3,73 a Spolno/rodnu ravnopravnost i odgovorno spolno ponašanje ocjenjuju ocjenom 3,77. Uglavnom se slažu da bi tematske cjeline trebali predavati zdravstveni djelatnici 3,57. Ocjenom 2,45 ocjenjuju potrebu uvođenja Zdravstvenog odgoja kao posebnog predmeta u škole, a ocjenom 1,75 potrebu njegova ocjenjivanja. Zdravstveni odgoj važan je čimbenik prevencije nastanka rizičnih ponašanja mladih osoba kao i formiranja stavova i zdravih stilova života. Njegovo uvođenje i sadržaj uglavnom su ocijenjeni vrlo dobrim ocjenama, no učenici ne žele dodatno opterećenje sadržaja kroz poseban predmet kao ni njegovo ocjenjivanje.Introduction: In the recent years, health education has been one of the most pressing topics in the field of education. It was introduced in primary and secondary schools in 2012 through four modules: Healthy Living; Prevention of Addiction; Prevention of Violent Behaviour; Gender Equality and Responsible Sexual Behaviour. Subjects and Methods: By carrying out a specially constructed anonymous questionnaire, attitudes and satisfaction of secondary-school students regarding the introduction of health education have been examined. The research was conducted following the Ethics Committee’s approval of all schools and obtaining written approval from parents of students under the age of 18. Results: 304 (215 female and 89 male) students from Medical High School, Trade and Commercial School, Tourism and Hospitality School, and Bjelovar Grammar School participated in the study. The average age of the students is 17.02 years. Most students have very good school achievement. The majority of them (268) live with their parents (94.1%), while approximately equal numbers live in urban and rural areas. Parents mostly have a high school degree. On Likert’s scale 1-5, they have rated the need for introducing health education to schools with 3.73; while the module itself has been rated with 3.76. The module Healthy Living has been rated with 3.68; Prevention of Violent Behaviour with 3.68; Prevention of Addiction with 3.73; and Gender Equality and Responsible Sexual Behaviour with 3.77. They generally agree that the topics should be taught by health care professionals (3.57). The students have rated the need for introducing health education in schools with 2.45; however, the need for it becoming a graded subject has been rated with 1.75. Conclusion: Health education is an important factor in preventing risky behaviour among young people, as well as in developing attitudes and a healthy lifestyle. The introduction and content thereof have been rather well rated, yet students do not want any additional workload in the form of a school subject and grading