Health EXPO

In 2005 the LANE project identified in research that there were many different potential barriers to learning - income, number of parents, time with children, number of books, amount of sibling reading, medical issues etc.

All of Linwood College's year 9 E19/22A cards - those that came from their primary school were examined. They were found to be missing a large amount of data and it was not clear even if a number of the tests were ever done.

Linwood College undertook an informal survey of students and parents and compared the results. There was up to 30% difference in the information that was held on the E19/22A cards compared to responses the parents expressed about their children's health.

A recommendation was made that a complete medical of all the year 9 and year 10 Linwood College students, examining ears, eyes, nose and throat, teeth be completed. This would give factual evidence to back what is currently being observed. Treatment could then be offered to correct any problems found. These assessments needed to be standardized and performed by medical experts under medical ethics conditions to ensure the robust nature of the research.

The Collaborative for Research & Training in Youth Health & Development Trust (the Collaborative) undertook to do this research.

The Collaborative was contracted to examine Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat, and the Dental check and Linwood College would do the Demographics, Fitness, Health measurements, and HEADSS assessment for mental health.

An Ethics Committee application for the Collaborative was completed and lodged and a Locality Assessment was completed to ensure the venue and contractors met exacting standards.

Information was send to parents /caregivers including consent forms for the students to participate in the testing by the Collaborative. To encourage the students to participate in the testing, all year 9 and year 10 students were part of an Expo on Health with free gifts, handouts, health information pamphlets.

Exhibitors at the Health Expo were:

• NZ Blood Service
• Cancer Society
• Auhi Kore / Smokefree
• Diverse café / 198 Youth
• Heart Foundation
• Sports & Rec Kaiwhakahaere
• Mental Health Foundation
• Sport Canterbury

Each of these displayers were given a commercial expo 2.4m x 2.4m booth and allowed to fit it out with their material and displays. Some manned them each day and others put brochures out. Some had computer interactive displays and others just had static ones. All had giveaways and pamphlets for all students to takeaway.

In addition to the display material other free gifts included, 500 balloons, 450 Oral B toothbrushes, dental floss, pamphlets and a bag to put the gifts in. Happy Apple in Ferry Road donated 450 apples for the event as well. Reading Cinemas couldn't supply free movie passes but did discount them.

The information and consent forms were compiled, printed and sent out to all parents with the opting out option being a written note into the school by Friday 10th February. Only one written note was received by then, but eventually six students were not part of the testing as their parents did not want them included.

Refer to the specialist Health Tests Report from the Collaborative for further details on the testing and the information and consent forms.

Organisation

To ensure everything was standardised for the eye testing four sets of dual standing 500w lights and a lux meter to measure the amount of light falling on the charts was purchased. Minor adjustments of the lights ensured 700 lumens constant light on each chart.

The ear examinations were conducted in selected suitable rooms that had substantial walls around them to eliminate outside noise.

The Health measurements were carried out in our Health Center by three registered nurses on the Linwood College staff. Standardised height measuring equipment were purchased and identical blood pressure measuring equipment, fat index callipers and scales borrowed.

The Queens College Step Test was chosen as it met all of the time and recording parameters and it was internationally standardised.

A check card was devised for each student that was coded with their personal student ID number. This was transferred to a separate result sheet at each station. This preserved their identity on all recorded data sheets and meant individuals could not be identified in the research.

Students were processed a class at a time. As each student came into the hall, they received their card and went to the first listed station on it, Eyes, Ears, Fitness, Health or Registration. When they received their card it was marked off on a central roll and at each station when they completed it, a craft punch hole was made in the edge. When they completed all stations they brought it back to the front desk for their free goodie bag.

At registration a check was made to see that they had filled out the Collaborative form and the Linwood Demographic data form. A photo was taken of each student for the school records and placed on the school database.

All 19 classes were processed from Monday 13th to Thursday 16th February 2006. Friday was set aside for a few smaller groups and other catchups.

The Dental visits were organised in a separate schedule. The Mayor organised a City council community van for four days and a commercial van hired for the Friday. A dedicated van driver and a teacher aide went around all the classes taking students down to the van for transport. Only two students attempted to avoid participation, but these were followed up and attended next day.

The students entered into the spirit of the Expo and visited all of the booths, getting pamphlets, talking with the stall holders, entering competitions, and reading or looking at the displays. Each day the Deans were given a list of non attendees and their homes were contacted.

Final result was only three year 9 students and eleven year 10 students did not go through the Health tests (plus the six whose parents refused to let them). Absence from school was the main reason. Most are chronic truants or may have shifted schools and forgotten to inform Linwood College.

The parents of students who were identified as needing follow-up care were contacted by the Collaborative asking them to make an appointment with an appropriate health specialist. The follow-up care is provided free of charge with an appropriate health specialist.

Separate reports for each of the following aspects which were initiated at the Health Expo are attached.