Background MAPEC_LIFE is a project founded by EU Life+ Programme (LIFE12 ENV/IT/000614) which intends to evaluate the associations between air pollution and early biological effects in children. One of the objectives of the project is to raise children awareness on air quality and its health effects. Objectives An educational package, containing leaflets for teachers, a cartoon and three educational videogames, was created and validated for primary school students. In the first phase of the study, the package was set up for understandability and usability on small groups of children and teachers and then tested for pleasantness and efficacy in improving knowledge on 266 children who attended 6 primary schools in 4 Italian cities. A control group of 51 children received only explanations from teachers. In the second phase, the action of improving awareness was extended to 3800 children with the help of 190 teachers. Results Considering the differences between total scores before and after the educational activities a significant increase was observed in the first phase. The mean score in the postknowledge test (11.01 0.1186) was higher than the mean score in the pre-knowledge test (9.199 0.1347) (p < 0.0001). The increase in knowledge for second graders (p < 0.0001) was higher than for third graders (p = 0.0134), indicating that this grade level should be the choice target. Moreover, in second graders the difference in the mean scores was greater compared with the control group (2.223 vs. 0.96, respectively), demonstrating the effectiveness of audiovisual tools. In the second phase, the usefulness of the tools to promote new knowledge was evaluated positively by all teachers and videogames were greatly appreciated by the majority of children. Conclusions This intervention of environmental education and health literacy, approaching children with tailored messages and tools, appeared to be very useful, improving children knowledge and stimulating their interest.
Awareness-raising on air quality and health effects in primary school children
CASINI, BEATRICE;CARDUCCI, ANNALAURA;VERANI, MARCO;DONZELLI, GABRIELE;
2016-01-01
Abstract
Background MAPEC_LIFE is a project founded by EU Life+ Programme (LIFE12 ENV/IT/000614) which intends to evaluate the associations between air pollution and early biological effects in children. One of the objectives of the project is to raise children awareness on air quality and its health effects. Objectives An educational package, containing leaflets for teachers, a cartoon and three educational videogames, was created and validated for primary school students. In the first phase of the study, the package was set up for understandability and usability on small groups of children and teachers and then tested for pleasantness and efficacy in improving knowledge on 266 children who attended 6 primary schools in 4 Italian cities. A control group of 51 children received only explanations from teachers. In the second phase, the action of improving awareness was extended to 3800 children with the help of 190 teachers. Results Considering the differences between total scores before and after the educational activities a significant increase was observed in the first phase. The mean score in the postknowledge test (11.01 0.1186) was higher than the mean score in the pre-knowledge test (9.199 0.1347) (p < 0.0001). The increase in knowledge for second graders (p < 0.0001) was higher than for third graders (p = 0.0134), indicating that this grade level should be the choice target. Moreover, in second graders the difference in the mean scores was greater compared with the control group (2.223 vs. 0.96, respectively), demonstrating the effectiveness of audiovisual tools. In the second phase, the usefulness of the tools to promote new knowledge was evaluated positively by all teachers and videogames were greatly appreciated by the majority of children. Conclusions This intervention of environmental education and health literacy, approaching children with tailored messages and tools, appeared to be very useful, improving children knowledge and stimulating their interest.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
