BACKGROUND

Q. Who conducts the survey?
A. The Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway is responsible for organising the study in Ireland. The Centre conducted the HBSC survey in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Q. Who funds the survey?
A. The survey in Ireland is funded by the Department of Health.

Q. Why is the survey being done?  
A. The 2022 survey will the seventh time that Ireland has been involved helping us to track changes over time in children’s health and well-being. The study will help us gain new insight into and to improve our understanding of the health behaviours of young people. The results will also help with future development of health-related policy and practice, creating better opportunities for young people’s health.

Q. How does the HBSC survey differ from other surveys on children’s health?
A. HBSC is unique because it investigates the the factors that shape and influence health and health behaviour. For example, questions on relationships with others and local neighbourhoods are included. In addition, the international aspect of HBSC helps us to monitor international trends and to exchange strategies and practices where certain countries have been more successful in containing particular risk behaviours (e.g. drug use). HBSC is the most comprehensive study of early adolescent health behaviour.

Q. Is there support for the survey?
A. We liaise with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as well as the HSE and various health-related charities in developing the survey. We have also fully informed the organisations representing school managements, teachers and parents. Approval to conduct the HBSC survey is obtained from the Univeristy of Galway Research Ethics Committee (Email: ethics@universityofgalway.ie).

Q. What is the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the HBSC?
A. WHO serves as a collaborating partner with the 51 participating countries and regions involved with HBSC internationally. It provides support to smaller, less economically advantaged countries that wish to participate in HBSC. WHO has been instrumental in the development, publication, and dissemination of the international data resulting from the surveys. In addition WHO employs HBSC data to inform and monitor child and adolescent health policy across Europe.

METHODOLOGY

Q. How are children chosen to take part?
A. A sample of schools are selected randomly in a way that ensures equal representation of children and adolescents in education in Ireland. All types of schools from around the country are selected.

Q. What classes are included?
A. In Ireland, the HBSC survey is administered to children in primary and post-primary schools ranging from 3rd class upwards (excluding Leaving Certificate students).

Q. What kinds of questions are asked on the HBSC survey?
A. Different questions are asked of children of different ages. To understand the factors that shape and influence health and health behaviours, the survey asks questions on relationships with families and others, perceptions of school as a supportive environment, alcohol and tobacco use, drug use, diet, physical activity, injuries and the communities in which the students live. Some questions are not suitable for younger children and are not included on the questionnaires for them. Students can choose not to answer questions if they so wish.  

Q. How long will it take to complete the questionnaire?
A. It takes approximately 30 minutes. For younger classes the questionnaire is shorter.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Q. Will students be recognisable?
A. No, the study is confidential and students do not put their names on the questionnaires.

Q. Can students' names be used or linked to surveys?
A. Survey administration procedures are designed to protect student privacy and allow for anonymous participation. Students do not put their names on the survey and no personal identifiers are used on any of the materials. No information on any individual child will ever be made public. Reports will never include names of participating schools or students. 

Q. Are students tracked over time to see how their behaviour changes?
A. No. Participating students cannot be tracked because no identifying information is ever connected to their completed questionnaire.

Q. Will the school be recognisable?
A. No, the study is confidential and no specific school will be recognisable. Information on which schools take part is held securely and separately from the information from students so they cannot be linked.

Q. Can students/schools choose not to take part?
A. The decision to take part is completely voluntary.

Q. Who administers the survey to the students?
A. Teachers are nominated by the Principal to administer the survey.  Guidelines for the ideal conditions (i.e. an exam setting) are provided. Students seal their questionnaires in blank envelopes provided prior to collection; this assures the anonymity of students. Alternatively, schools can choose to have their students complete the questionnaire online, with a secure database available only to researchers on the HBSC Ireland team, University of Galway.

DISSEMINATION

Q. Who will benefit from the study?
A. The results of the study will be relevant to everyone working with and for children; policy makers, teachers, parents, care-givers and, of course, young people themselves. For example, results from previous surveys have been used in developing health-related policies. Examples can be found on our publications page.

Q. How will the results be used?
A. The WHO, the EU, the European Commission and UNICEF have used the findings to help develop policy to improve children’s lives.  In Ireland the data collected have helped to inform national health policy, and are used to report on national progress on the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures framework for children and young people.

Q. Where can I get a copy of the survey results?
A.  HBSC Ireland survey results are available to download in a variety of formats including national reportsinternational reports, journal articlesbooks and book chaptersshort reportsfactsheetsother publicationstheses and presentations. We also have interactive data visuals that can be explored on our website. Further details and hard copies of the reports can be requested from the Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway by emailing: hbsc@universityofgalway.ie

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