Implementing a health education program for musculoskeletal disorders prevention in primary school pupils with the complementary use of distance learning based on Information and Communication Technologies

ABSTRACT Introduction: The long-term burden of the Spinal Cord from bad body position, weight lifting in the wrongway, etc. leads to the onset of musculoskeletal problems that affect functionality and general health of the individuals. Long-term health education programs, implemented in school-aged pupils, can help prevent musculoskeletal problems as they seek to adopt healthy behaviors and attitudes. Purpose of this study, was to investigate the impact and changes of the implementation of a health education program for prevention of musculoskeletal problems, using distance learning, based on I.C.T., methods on the level of knowledge and attitudes of fifth and sixth grade elementary school pupils. Methods: The empirical survey was conducted during 2016-2017 academic year in three primary schools of a non-urban area of Eastern Macedonia-Greece. The participants were 92 students divided into two groups: a) experimental (60 persons) using distance learning with I.C.T. and b) control (32 persons) using standard teaching by the class teacher. In order to compare knowledge levels and change in values between the measurements, paired sample t-test and independent sample t-tests were performed as well as the corresponding non-test samples parametric controls of Kolmogorov-Smirnoff and Mann-Whitney, to compare results regarding the teaching methods. Results: The results showed that although in the short-term the control group experienced a greater improvement in knowledge, the experimental team, eventually, acquired and maintained more knowledge over the long-term. Conclusions: Supplementary distance teaching of long-term health education programs using I.C.T. is effective in achieving the desired change in knowledge and attitudes, in order to acquire healthy lifestyles.