Exploring Needs of Health Educators on Education of Health Behaviors to Students: A Qualitative Study

The health educators, who are responsible health education in school, play a crucial role in the physical and mental health of students. The aim of this study was to explore needs of health educators on education of health behaviors to students.
Material and This qualitative study was conducted at the schools of Sanandaj city, located in the west of Iran, in 2016. Using purposive sampling, sixteen school health trainers with health education experience were included in the study. Data were collected through individual interview and group discussion, observation and field notes, and analyzed by conventional content analysis. To confirm the accuracy and strength of the data, acceptability, confirmability and transferability components were taken into account.
Five categories and eighteen subcategories emerged from the data analysis, including strengthening organizational factors (Intersectoral cooperation and external, Monitoring of school health matters and Solve the economic problems of schools), efficient manpower (use of appropriate human resources, Improve the performance of trainers, Strengthening communication skills of trainer and Activate student health volunteers program), educational preparation (Appropriate educational condition, advantage of the educational facilities, methods and models of teaching, pay attention to learnerʼs characteristics and Design the educational content), attention to health of learner and trainer (pay attention to physical health of learner, pay attention to mental health of learner, pay attention to physical health of trainer and pay attention to mental health of trainer) and strengthening the role of family (improving Cooperation of parents with school and Parental attention to learner).
To deliver efficient and effective health education to students, health educators need to the inter-sectoral and extra-sectoral collaboration, giving more attention to the health promotion programs on the part of the authorities, equipping schools to educational equipment and facilities, and training educators.