Disparities and socioeconomic inequalities in the distribution of chronic conditions and debilitating diseases underscore the importance of improving the health of marginalized communities. Obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other conditions can be traced back to health practices (smoking, diet choices, physical activity) that started during adolescence. The habits and lifestyles developed during adolescence have a compounding effect on the life course of an individual. High schools already teach health knowledge in dedicated classes, yet prior research shows low health literacy and knowledge among adults and children. Our study assesses knowledge of the most common causes of mortality for USA citizens among high school students. Health knowledge is an integral component of health literacy. Health literacy and knowledge have major prognostic value on long-term health and provide a litmus test on the efficacy of high school health education. Demographic stratifications reveal that a lack of health literacy and knowledge affects lower-income groups. Poor health knowledge adds costs disproportionately weighted towards patients who already struggle to afford care. Our study will include students from high schools in the Greater Houston Area, stratified by socioeconomic status. Our primary outcome will be the performance on the health knowledge 25-question instrument. Analysis of the outcomes will evaluate the effectiveness of high school education in disseminating meaningful health knowledge. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to health care policy by refining the curriculum of the health classes taught in high school and alleviating social inequity.

Authors:
Liam Ferreira, Baylor College of Medicine, United States
Kenyon Agrons, Baylor College of Medicine, United States
Whitney Jin, Baylor College of Medicine, United States
Anjali Aggarwal, Baylor College of Medicine, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Liam D. Ferreira is currently a medical student at Baylor College of Medicine. His interests include healthcare and clinical research that optimizes patient outcomes.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Schedule

Bookmark