MHH supports project that helps schools with prevention work
Many of the foundations for a person's life are laid in childhood and adolescence. A healthy upbringing is important for positive development. This is the focus of the "Weitblick" program. It aims to support schools in successfully implementing prevention and health promotion measures. The Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research at the Medical School (MHH) is investigating how this can best be achieved. The multi-year study "Process and effectiveness evaluation of the multi-level interventions Weitblick" is being funded by the Association of Private Health Insurers (PKV) with around 1.44 million euros.
Tackling the causes
"Prevention and health measures are more effective if they are needs-oriented and science-based," says Professor Dr. Ulla Walter, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research. Although many schools are willing to do something about bullying, drug use, violence or crime, they do not know which measures are really the right ones. "The measures should start with the causes," emphasizes Dr. Dominik Röding and gives an example. "In the case of bullying, the cause can be in the family, among friends or even at school. Many things can play a role." If the need and the causes are known, a program can be selected that fits exactly into the local context of the respective school. "Weitblick" supports schools in identifying their specific prevention needs, selecting suitable measures from the "Green List Prevention" evidence register, implementing them and monitoring them. The project is offered by the non-profit educational organization FINDER Akademie. Professor Walter, Dr. Röding and their MHH team are evaluating the project until the end of 2026.
Supporting the schools every step of the way
The central questions of the study are: How well do schools succeed in implementing Weitblick and what factors play a role in this? Does Weitblick increase the schools' prevention capacities? Does Weitblick improve health behavior in schools? "We look at the entire process in detail to find out which factors lead to success and which don't," explains Professor Walter. There is a lot of scientific work behind this, for example surveys of pupils, teachers and other school staff, parents and local authority contacts. It also involves developing the concept with all those involved and implementing it. The aim of the study is to improve the situation at schools in the long term. "Schools must become a better place," says Dr. Röding.
Interventions from the prevention green list
The individual prevention and health promotion projects come from the "Green List Prevention" evidence register, which was founded in 2011 on the initiative of the Lower Saxony State Prevention Council and has been managed and maintained jointly with the Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research since 2016. The register contains more than 100 programs to promote the psychosocial health of children and young people. It is currently being expanded to include further measures on nutrition and exercise. All measures on the Green List are scientifically examined for their effectiveness and classified accordingly. "All schools in Germany can access these effectiveness-tested prevention programs," emphasizes Dr. Röding.
144 schools take part
A total of 144 schools will take part in the "Weitblick" study. This includes all types of schools from elementary school to grammar schools, from special schools to vocational schools. Half of the schools will be scientifically supported in the selection and implementation of their prevention projects, while the other half will form the control group.
Text: Tina Götting