Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to elucidate: 1) How health handbooks are used at elementary and junior high schools, and 2) Whether the retrospective use of health handbooks at elementary and junior high schools has an influence on students' current attitudes regarding health handbooks and their health-related habits.
Methodology: A group survey was conducted with 340 first-to third-year students at two senior high schools in Tokyo using anonymous questionnaires. The questionnaire contained questions regarding attribution, the use of health handbooks at elementary and junior high school, attitudes regarding the use of health handbooks in senior high school, and health-related habits.
Results: The usage rate of health handbooks at elementary and junior high school was approximately 80%. Approximately 50% of students responded that their teacher recorded medical check-up results in their health handbook, and approximately 70% of students responded that their handbooks were kept at school. When asked whether they still had the records of medical check-up results, approximately 40% of the students responded that they still had them at home, while 50% were unsure. Approximately 40% of the students answered that it was necessary for them to have had their elementary and junior high school checkup results stored, and 30% of students stated that they would like to use their senior high school health handbooks in the future. A significant relationship was observed between senior high school students' willingness to use health handbooks, the experience of using health handbooks at elementary and junior high school, and the belief that it is necessary to store records of elementary and junior high school medical check-up results. However, no discernable link was observed between the use of health handbooks at elementary and junior high school and current health-related habits.
Conclusion: The survey suggests that the use of health handbooks at elementary and junior high schools may not have an effect on subsequent health-related habits. The students' willingness to use their senior high school health handbooks was related to their having used them in elementary and junior high school, as well as to recognize the importance of medical check-up results recording. These results indicate that it is necessary to revise and improve the ways in which health handbooks can be utilized. Moreover, it was suggested that it is important to offer school health education that encourages the consideration of one's own health and continued use of health handbooks.
