School Nurse-Led Help-Seeking Program in Middle School Students

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

School Nurse-Led Symptom Awareness and Help-Seeking Education Program: This intervention is a structured, school nurse-led education program designed to improve symptom awareness and appropriate help-seeking behaviors among middle school students. The program consists of four sessions delivered in a classroom setting. The content includes recognizing body signals, identifying common symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, and fatigue, interpreting symptom severity, and making appropriate help-seeking decisions within the school environment (e.g., seeking help from a teacher, school nurse, or family member). The sessions are designed to be age-appropriate, interactive, and student-centered, incorporating discussions and real-life scenarios to enhance understanding and engagement. The program aims to support students in developing the ability to recognize when a symptom requires attention and to choose appropriate sources of help.

Study summary

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a school nurse-led symptom awareness and appropriate help-seeking program on the health behaviors of middle school students. In school settings, middle school students frequently experience common symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, or fatigue but may have difficulty recognizing their significance and seeking appropriate help. Improving symptom awareness and help-seeking behaviors in middle school students is essential for promoting health and preventing potential complications.

This cluster randomized controlled pilot study will be conducted among middle school students. Classes will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive a structured, school nurse-led education program consisting of four sessions focusing on recognizing body signals, understanding common symptoms, and making appropriate help-seeking decisions. The control group will continue with routine school activities without receiving the intervention.

Data will be collected at baseline and after the intervention using a scenario-based help-seeking assessment and a help-seeking attitude form. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence for the effectiveness of school nurse-led interventions in improving students' health behaviors and contribute to the development of school health programs.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Help-Seeking Behavior Score (Scenario-Based Assessment) — Baseline and 4 weeks (post-intervention)
  The primary outcome is students' help-seeking behavior, assessed using a scenario-based help-seeking test developed for middle school students. The assessment evaluates students' ability to recognize symptom severity and select appropriate help-seeking actions in common school-related situations (e.g., seeking help from a teacher, school nurse, or family member). Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more appropriate help-seeking behavior.

Trial sites (1)

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