Exploring the Potential of a School-Based Online Health and Wellbeing Screening Tool: Young People’s Perspectives

Nicholas Woodrow, Hannah Fairbrother, Katrina D’Apice, Katie Breheny, Patricia Albers, Clare Mills, Sarah Tebbett, Rona Campbell and Frank De Vocht
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Nicholas Woodrow: School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Hannah Fairbrother: Health Sciences School, University of Sheffield, 3a Clarkehouse Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
Katrina D’Apice: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Katie Breheny: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Patricia Albers: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Clare Mills: Public Health, Floor 4, Halford Wing, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester City Council, Leicester LE1 1FZ, UK
Sarah Tebbett: Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Bridge Park Plaza, Bridge Park Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8PQ, UK
Rona Campbell: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
Frank De Vocht: Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Despite high levels of need, many young people who experience health issues do not seek, access or receive support. Between May and November 2021, using semi-structured interviews, we explored the perspectives of 51 young people (aged 13–14) from two schools who had taken part in a novel online health and wellbeing screening programme, the Digital Health Contact (DHC). One school delivered the DHC during home-learning due to COVID-19 restrictions, whilst the other delivered it in school when restrictions were lifted. The DHC was seen as a useful approach for identifying health need and providing support, and had high levels of acceptability. Young people appreciated the online format of the DHC screening questionnaire and thought this facilitated more honest responses than a face-to-face approach might generate. Completion at home, compared to school-based completion, was perceived as more private and less time-pressured, which young people thought facilitated more honest and detailed responses. Young people’s understanding of the screening process (including professional service involvement and confidentiality) influenced engagement and responses. Overall, our findings afford important insights around young people’s perspectives of participating in screening programmes, and highlight key considerations for the development and delivery of health screening approaches in (and out of) school.

Keywords: schools; screening; child; adolescent; health; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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