Effectiveness of Education on Preventive Measures Against Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in School-Age Children

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Education on Preventive Measures Against Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in School-Age Children: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an animation video-supported education program on preventive measures against acute respiratory tract infections among first-grade primary school children.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an animation video-supported education program on preventive measures against acute respiratory tract infections among first-grade primary school children. The study was conducted as a cluster randomized controlled trial in a public primary school in Istanbul, Türkiye. Two first-grade classrooms were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received an animation video-supported education program on preventive measures against acute respiratory tract infections, while the control group received no education during the data collection period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and two weeks after completion of the intervention. The primary outcomes included children's knowledge scores regarding preventive measures against respiratory tract infections, coughing/sneezing hygiene skill scores, and hand hygiene skill scores.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being enrolled in the first grade of the primary school where the study was conducted
• Being able to speak and understand Turkish
• Having written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Being willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having an acute respiratory tract infection during data collection
• Having any chronic disease
• Having a physical or cognitive impairment that prevents communication, watching the educational materials, or completing the measurement tools
• Not having written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Not being willing to participate in the study