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What is the Student Health Survey?
The Student Health Survey is a survey that asks students in Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 about themselves and their health. The Student Health Survey asks questions about physical activity, nutrition, mental health, bullying and behaviours such as smoking. The information helps Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) and the School Boards plan programs and services for elementary schools. The Student Health Survey is funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
To view a copy of the survey that will be administered to students, please click here: 2010/2011 Student Health Survey.
For more information on the Student Health Survey, please view our poster and pamphlet:
2010/2011 Student Health Survey Pamphlet
2010/2011 Student Health Survey Poster
When will it take place?
We will be administering the survey in Saskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools from January 10, 2011 until the end of February, 2011.
For the first time, we are also conducting the survey in Prairie Spirit School Division and Horizon School Division. We will administer the survey in these schools in March and April of 2011.
How does my child participate in the survey?
Participation in the survey is optional and is not part of regular class work, though the survey will be completed during school hours. A consent form went home with all students in city of Saskatoon schools at the beginning of the school year. The consent form for rural schools will be sent out in January, 2011. This year, every child that returns a filled out consent form (with either yes or no checked off) will be entered into a draw to win a Wii and Wii Fit. If you did not receive a consent form, please click here to download the 2010/2011 SHS consent form. You can mail or drop off the consent form to:
Dr. Jennifer Cushon
101-310 Idylwyld Drive N
Saskatoon SK S7L 0Z2
SHR will keep all information private and confidential; the completed surveys will not be shared with parents, principals, teachers or other children. This study has been approved by the University of Saskatchewan's Research Ethics Board.
History of the Student Health Survey
The Student Health Survey was administered by SHR in 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 to all students in Saskatoon in grades five to eight. The first survey measured physical activity, mental health status, risk behaviours (e.g., smoking), bullying, self-reported health, and health determinants. Based upon the results of the first survey, SHR and the School Boards decided to focus the second survey on mental health, physical activity and bullying.
2008/2009 Student Health Survey
Both Student Health Surveys in Saskatoon found significant differences between students in low-income neighbourhood schools compared to students in affluent neighbourhood schools for a range of health measures (e.g., suicide ideation, bullying, etc.).
What has been done with the information from the Student Health Survey?
The data from both surveys pointed to areas that required improvement (e.g., mental health, physical activity). Based on the results from the 2006/2007 survey (primarily the significant differences in health status by neighbourhood income), SHR re-assigned six Public Health Nurses and a variety of other public health staff to schools in certain low-income neighbourhoods in Saskatoon. In addition, SHR collaborated with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine to open paediatric clinics in two community schools, and SHR provided funding to ten community schools to enhance and develop after-school programs.
Results from the 2008/2009 survey prompted SHR to implement a mental health and physical activity intervention in five schools in low-income neighbourhoods of Saskatoon. Evaluations of these interventions are currently being conducted to determine whether these interventions have been able to reduce the disparity in health status that was found in the Student Health Surveys. In addition, the Health Promotion Department, Public Health Services has used Student Health Survey results to select the schools in greatest need of their Health Promoting Schools initiative (for more information on the Health Promoting Schools initiative, please contact Helen Oliver at 655-4483).
Individual schools throughout Saskatoon have also changed and/or created programming to address issues that were found in the surveys. For example, a number of schools in Saskatoon introduced new physical activity programs, after principals and teachers learned of low physical activity scores in their schools from the Student Health Survey.
Who can I contact if I want more information?
Dr. Jennifer Cushon
Program Manager of Research and Evaluation (any questions)
655-4634
Christina Scott
Research Assistant (questions about city Student Health Survey)
655-4678
Tanis Kershaw
Research Assistant (questions about rural Student Health Survey)
655-4604
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