[Health education on controlling digital device use and lifestyle habits for adolescents' physical and mental health: School health promotion activities at a junior high school in Matsue City].

Abstract

Objectives　Healthy Parents and Children 21 (Tier 2) promotes health education collaboration across multifaceted sectors in order to realize a society that supports the physical and mental health of the next generation. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the school's health activities and present the findings obtained through surveys and health education activities at a junior high school.Methods　The activities were focused on activities targeting the junior high school in Town A, Matsue City, Shimane. The town launched a pediatric lifestyle-related disease control project in 1991. Even after the municipal merger, local school health committee activities were maintained. The Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine at Tottori University has been participating in school health activities in Town A since the beginning of the project. Elementary and junior high schools in Town A allowed medical students from Tottori University to participate in health activities for social medicine training. Herein, we discuss (1) the results of the survey conducted at A junior high school in 2022; topics included lifestyle, digital device use, and mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and (2) feedback from junior high school students, school health workers, and medical students regarding activities for social medicine training.Results　Medical students provided a 50-minute health education program at A junior high school. Based on interviews and questionnaires administered to junior high students and school health workers, important health issues were identified. Accordingly, the medical students planned a program aimed at acquiring favorable lifestyle habits, with a particular focus on sleep and excessive digital device use. The program was conducted in each second-grade class. Additionally, activities at the junior high school and town A allowed us to collaborate with the Matsue City Board of Education and Youth Development Organization. They shared our concerns about adolescent lifestyles and digital device use.Conclusion　Our activity provided health education on controlling digital device use and promoting favorable lifestyles using a peer education strategy. In the future, connecting related sectors and making the best use of local resources are desirable for developing activities for a broader area. Evaluating the effectiveness of these activities and establishing a system that enables primary healthcare workers, schools, and local boards of education to develop their own school health activities in collaboration with the local government are warranted.