JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Health and wellbeing promotion are key point of educational programs of adolescents within the schools. Actually, there are several health education programs, mainly based on lifestyle habits changes; however, also social and emotional dimensions, should be implemented within these educational strategies.

Objective:

This study aims to i) develop a new innovative web-tool to analyse and monitor individual, classroom and scholastic institute data on lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, and scholastic performance; ii) create a Web tool for managing the well-being of adolescents through a dynamic and personalized interface that provides immediate feedback that allows the School to monitor progress; iii) evaluate, in a pilot study, the effects of school-based program built on the AVATAR platform results obtain at the start of the scholastic year.

Methods:

The AVATAR method consists in integrating the information coming from the different questionnaires. In particular, to allow planning didactic and educational actions based on the results obtained, AVATAR approach allows to subdivide the results of the different observed variables and the four components in three percentiles: Modify, Improve, Maintain. AVATAR web-platform was designed to collect data on lifestyle, emotional status, and social context, from junior high schools on fundamental aspects of adolescent daily life, free use of charge, by the scholastic community (scholars, teachers, parents). In the pilot study, data from 331 students were acquired between 2018 and 2019 at the beginning of the scholastic year (Pre) and at the end after school-based programs (Post).

Results:

Preliminary results obtained from pilot study showed that after school planning and specific programming, defined after AVATAR feedback, students reported a better well-being perception, characterized by a higher perception in the psychological well-being, mood, self-perception, autonomy, and increased the perception of financial resources, developing a healthy lifestyle habits. In social context assessment, students reported stronger relationship with the family and with peers, and a lower perception of bullying.

Conclusions:

Avatar web-platform, is a feasible and flexible tool for health and well-being management of adolescents from epidemiological, preventive, and educational point of views. In particular, as supported by pilot study results, can be used for: i) promote information campaigns aimed at modifying risk behaviors in the student population; ii) sensitize students and put them at the center of their growth path; iii) inform the institutions on the health and well-being of the school population, iv) evaluate the effectiveness of the actions implemented by the School; v) to promote the exchange of good practices aimed at strengthening systems intended for the education, training and well-being of students.