Level of Health Competence of 14–19-Year-Old Students

Preventive healthcare is a top priority in modern health policy. As its main elements, the health education and health culture of the population are essential. Medical specialists bear almost little responsibility for their development and quality. Educators, the school as an institution, the family and society have a key role to play in this regard. In Bulgaria, health education is not present as an independent subject at school. It is embedded in various classroom and extracurricular forms of education. The purpose of this study is to establish the level of health knowledge among 14–19-year-old Bulgarian students achieved through the education system, family and social environment. It also explores the possibilities for enhancing the health competence of high school students.

FORMATION OF HEALTH'S SUSTAINABLE COMPETENCE AS A DIRECTION OF ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The article reveals the urgency of the issue of health competence as a necessary condition for a healthy and safe life, which should contribute to the achievement of global goals of sustainable development of society. Emphasis is placed on the mission of education in the formation of the foundations of sustainable development, its functional purpose, content and effectiveness. Attention is drawn to the need to reorient domestic education towards sustainable development, in which the fourth component is defined as quality education. The normative-legal documents in the field of education are analyzed, which direct the educational process to the need for a holistic approach to the formation of health-preserving competence, indicate the need for a new understanding of the role of health, which will enable every citizen to live a full life. It is noted that the State Standard sets the competence approach as a system-forming factor in the development of personal qualities of students and the formation of a positive attitude to human health, pays attention to educational areas that provide health-oriented educational process. The study specifies the essence of the terms "health", "health", "competence approach", "health competence". It is noted that the established health competence of the graduate of the educational institution enriches the complex development of his personality on the basis of sustainable development of society. Emphasis is placed on innovative approaches to combining economic, social, health and environmental platforms to address pressing societal issues in a balanced way.

FORMATION OF HEALTH COMPETENCE OF STUDENT YOUTH AS A PRIORITY OF STATE POLICY

The article substantiates the relevance and features of the formation of health-preserving competence of student youth as a priority area of public policy. Despite the scientists' active interest in the problem of developing the individual's health competence, in theory, and practice, this issue remains insufficiently studied. In particular, there is no common understanding of the essence of health competence, the process of its development. In this regard, the concept of «health competence» requires clarification and specification and analysis of the pedagogical conditions of its formation in student youth. Today, it is vital to introduce a systematic approach to maintaining public health by involving not only health but also education, culture, social work, etc. Statistics show an exacerbation of negative phenomena in Ukraine: the spread of drug addiction among young people, alcohol use, smoking, sexually transmitted diseases, early pregnancy. The problem of health and a healthy lifestyle has been exacerbated in the context of the current global pandemic. In the context of the importance and role of youth in the social structure of society, the study of the essence of youth problems, including health issues, becomes relevant. The author found that one of the most pressing problems of today is the formation of health-preserving competence of student youth, which involves the formation of a healthy lifestyle in the younger generation. Given the diverse scientific approaches to the problem in the study of the formation of health competence of students, youth has been considered as an integrative personality trait that ensures the organization of a healthy lifestyle in the physical, social and mental (spiritual) spheres of student youth as a separate socio-demographic group. Differs in the set of age and psychophysiological features, the level of health of which depends not only on the quality of their own lives but also the quality of the future professional activity.

The Role of Physical Activity-Related Health Competence and Leisure-Time Physical Activity for Physical Health and Metabolic Syndrome: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach for German Office Workers

Office workers (OWs) are prone to insufficient physical activity (PA), which increases their risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and impaired physical health. The Physical Activity-related Health Competence (PAHCO) model holds the potential to facilitate a healthy physically active lifestyle. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the interplay between PAHCO, leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs in Germany. In a cross-sectional study, OWs (N = 316, 25% female) completed self-report questionnaires along with an occupational health checkup to examine their Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MetSSS) values. Structural equation modeling indicated a strong positive association between PAHCO and leisure-time PA and a small positive association with physical health. PAHCO showed a considerable negative association with the MetSSS. Leisure-time PA was a positive mediator for the PAHCO–physical health association but was not a significant mediator for the association between PAHCO and the MetSSS. These findings underscore the importance of PAHCO in the context of leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs. Furthermore, our findings highlight the health-enhancing value of the qualitative aspects of PA, such as motivational and volitional components in PA participation, with respect to physical health and MetS.

Promotion of physical activity-related health competence in physical education: A person-oriented approach for evaluating the GEKOS intervention within a cluster randomized controlled trial

A central goal of physical education (PE) is to empower students to be physically active in a health-enhancing way. Therefore, using a competence-based approach, the objective of the health- and fitness-related PE intervention ‘Promotion of physical activity-related health competence in PE’ (GEKOS) was to address practical and theoretical content regarding training, fitness, and health. The aim of this person-oriented study was to examine differential effects of the GEKOS intervention on control competence and related knowledge, skills, abilities, and motivation. A total of 860 ninth graders were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Intervention group students received six PE lessons that combined practical and theoretical content regarding training, fitness, and health. Measurements were taken before, directly after, and with a follow-up after 8–12 weeks. Students completed a knowledge test and a fitness test, and filled out scales considering motivation and perceived control competence. Latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression were estimated. Five patterns of outcome measures were found. Intervention group students transitioned significantly more often to patterns with improved outcome values. The intervention was especially effective for a subgroup of students who initially had rather low outcome values. For a small proportion of students, the intervention entailed a loss of health-related motivation. The study indicated that students with low control competence and related knowledge, skills, abilities, and motivation can benefit from the GEKOS intervention. Future studies should investigate modes of actions and interventions that explicitly address motivation and vary the content and methods used in PE.

Natural history of mental health competence from childhood to adolescence

BackgroundMental health competence (MHC) involves psychosocial capabilities such as regulating emotions, interacting well with peers and caring for others, and predicts a range of health and social outcomes. This study examines the course of MHC from childhood to adolescence and patterning by gender and disadvantage, in Australian and UK contexts.MethodsData: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n=4983) and the Millennium Cohort Study (n=18 296). Measures: A measure capturing key aspects of MHC was derived summing items from the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, assessed at 4–5 years, 6–7 years, 10–11 years and 14–15 years. Analysis: Proportions of children with high MHC (scores ≥23 of range 8–24) were estimated by age and country. Random-effects models were used to define MHC trajectories according to baseline MHC and change over time. Sociodemographic patterns were described.ResultsThe prevalence of high MHC steadily increased from 4 years to 15 years (from 13.6% to 15.8% and 20.6% to 26.2% in Australia and the UK, respectively). Examination of trajectories revealed that pathways of some children diverge from this normative MHC progression. For example, 7% and 9% of children in Australia and the UK, respectively, had a low starting point and decreased further in MHC by mid-adolescence. At all ages, and over time, MHC was lower for boys compared with girls and for children from disadvantaged compared with advantaged family backgrounds.ConclusionsApproaches to promoting MHC require a sustained focus from the early years through to adolescence, with more intensive approaches likely needed to support disadvantaged groups and boys.

Relationship Between Cancer Related Fatigue, Physical Activity Related Health Competence, and Leisure Time Physical Activity in Cancer Patients and Survivors

Background: A large body of evidence supports the positive effects of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and exercise on cancer survivors. However, only a fraction of survivors manages to attain international PA recommendations. This can be attributed to several external and internal barriers toward PA those patients seem to encounter, with cancer related fatigue (CRF) being the most reported internal barrier. Nevertheless, self-efficacy and knowledge about the utilization of LTPA can serve as facilitators of PA, which also correspond to certain constituents of physical activity related health competence (PAHCO). Since PAHCO is not investigated in cancer survivors we investigated if PAHCO can mediate the negative relationship between CRF and LTPA.Methods: We surveyed 398 cancer survivors with different cancer types and therapy status. The patients completed the EORTC QLQ-FA12 (EORTC FA12) to assess CRF, the PAHCO questionnaire to assess PAHCO and the SQUASH to assess LTPA. We followed a two-step structural equation modeling approach. The first step established the measurement model, in the second step we fitted the mediation model. Since 163 patients chose not to answer the SQUASH, the mediation model was only fitted to the data of the remaining 235 participants.Results: The proposed measurement model of the PAHCO offered an excellent fit. We found small to moderate positive associations between the PAHCO dimensions and the LTPA, and negative moderate relationships between the PAHCO and the EORTC FA12 dimensions. We did not observe a relationship between the EORTC FA12 dimensions and the LTPA (p > 0.05). The hypothesized mediation models did not display an appropriate fit.Conclusion: The PAHCO confirmed its factorial validity; furthermore, it appears to have a positive relationship to LTPA. Therefore, integrating psycho-educational aspects can be beneficial in order to increase the PAHCO in exercise interventions. Because of the cross-sectional character of this study, causal conclusions are not suitable, therefore the longitudinal relationships of LTPA, CRF, and PAHCO require further investigation.