Health education as a component of an epidemiologic survey

A health education component was an integral part of the screening phase of a large epidemiological blood pressure study. Slide-tape programs, printed material and models appropriate to the age levels (6-16) of the children were used. As the children entered the room set aside by the school for the study, they were assigned to one of three stations: height and weight, blood pressure measurement or health education. The children then rotated to the remaining stations as a group; the printed material was handed out as they left. These activities and material served the three-fold purpose of: (1) meeting the school administration's concern that the school day be used for education; (2) educating thousands of children and their parents about blood pressure; and (3) keeping the children constructively occupied and quiet while their classmates were having their blood pressure measured.