Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most textbooks contains messages relating to health. This profuse information requires analysis with regards to the quality of such information. The objective was to identify the scientific evidence on which the health messages in te...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Simón-Lorda Pablo, Hernán-García Mariano, Ayudarte-Larios Luisa M, Barrio-Cantalejo Inés M, García-Gutiérrez José Francisco, Martínez-Tapias Jesús
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/54
_version_ 1829460844188008448
author Simón-Lorda Pablo
Hernán-García Mariano
Ayudarte-Larios Luisa M
Barrio-Cantalejo Inés M
García-Gutiérrez José Francisco
Martínez-Tapias Jesús
author_facet Simón-Lorda Pablo
Hernán-García Mariano
Ayudarte-Larios Luisa M
Barrio-Cantalejo Inés M
García-Gutiérrez José Francisco
Martínez-Tapias Jesús
author_sort Simón-Lorda Pablo
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most textbooks contains messages relating to health. This profuse information requires analysis with regards to the quality of such information. The objective was to identify the scientific evidence on which the health messages in textbooks are based.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The degree of evidence on which such messages are based was identified and the messages were subsequently classified into three categories: Messages with high, medium or low levels of evidence; Messages with an unknown level of evidence; and Messages with no known evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>844 messages were studied. Of this total, 61% were classified as messages with an unknown level of evidence. Less than 15% fell into the category where the level of evidence was known and less than 6% were classified as possessing high levels of evidence. More than 70% of the messages relating to "Balanced Diets and Malnutrition", "Food Hygiene", "Tobacco", "Sexual behaviour and AIDS" and "Rest and ergonomics" are based on an unknown level of evidence. "Oral health" registered the highest percentage of messages based on a high level of evidence (37.5%), followed by "Pregnancy and newly born infants" (35%). Of the total, 24.6% are not based on any known evidence. Two of the messages appeared to contravene known evidence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Many of the messages included in school textbooks are not based on scientific evidence. Standards must be established to facilitate the production of texts that include messages that are based on the best available evidence and which can improve children's health more effectively.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-12T11:39:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-de22c00a218a4e5e8c75c28d0b1e1181
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2458
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T11:39:31Z
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj.art-de22c00a218a4e5e8c75c28d0b1e11812022-12-22T00:25:35ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582011-01-011115410.1186/1471-2458-11-54Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive studySimón-Lorda PabloHernán-García MarianoAyudarte-Larios Luisa MBarrio-Cantalejo Inés MGarcía-Gutiérrez José FranciscoMartínez-Tapias Jesús<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most textbooks contains messages relating to health. This profuse information requires analysis with regards to the quality of such information. The objective was to identify the scientific evidence on which the health messages in textbooks are based.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The degree of evidence on which such messages are based was identified and the messages were subsequently classified into three categories: Messages with high, medium or low levels of evidence; Messages with an unknown level of evidence; and Messages with no known evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>844 messages were studied. Of this total, 61% were classified as messages with an unknown level of evidence. Less than 15% fell into the category where the level of evidence was known and less than 6% were classified as possessing high levels of evidence. More than 70% of the messages relating to "Balanced Diets and Malnutrition", "Food Hygiene", "Tobacco", "Sexual behaviour and AIDS" and "Rest and ergonomics" are based on an unknown level of evidence. "Oral health" registered the highest percentage of messages based on a high level of evidence (37.5%), followed by "Pregnancy and newly born infants" (35%). Of the total, 24.6% are not based on any known evidence. Two of the messages appeared to contravene known evidence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Many of the messages included in school textbooks are not based on scientific evidence. Standards must be established to facilitate the production of texts that include messages that are based on the best available evidence and which can improve children's health more effectively.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/54
spellingShingle Simón-Lorda Pablo
Hernán-García Mariano
Ayudarte-Larios Luisa M
Barrio-Cantalejo Inés M
García-Gutiérrez José Francisco
Martínez-Tapias Jesús
Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
BMC Public Health
title Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
title_full Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
title_fullStr Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
title_full_unstemmed Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
title_short Are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence? A descriptive study
title_sort are the health messages in schoolbooks based on scientific evidence a descriptive study
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/54
work_keys_str_mv AT simonlordapablo arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy
AT hernangarciamariano arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy
AT ayudartelariosluisam arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy
AT barriocantalejoinesm arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy
AT garciagutierrezjosefrancisco arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy
AT martineztapiasjesus arethehealthmessagesinschoolbooksbasedonscientificevidenceadescriptivestudy