Rural and Remote Health

www.rrh.org.au
James Cook University ISSN 1445-6354

Short Communication

Exploring primary healthcare professionals’ experiences as educators on safe internet use: a school-based intervention from Greece

AUTHORS

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Zoi Tsimtsiou1 PhD, Research Fellow *

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Anna Bettina Haidich2 PhD, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics ORCID logo

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Anastasios Drontsos3 Social Worker

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Theodoros Dardavesis4 PhD, Professor of Social Medicine

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Panagiotis Nanos5 MSc, Assistant Director

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Malamatenia Arvanitidou6 PhD, Professor of Hygiene

AFFILIATIONS

1 Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventative Medicine and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and Urban Health Centre of Evosmos, Thessaloniki, Greece

2, 4, 6 Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventative Medicine and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

3 Urban Health Centre of Evosmos, Thessaloniki, Greece

5 3rd Health Authority of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

ACCEPTED: 31 December 2018


Now published, see the full article go to

Early Abstract:

Aim: The objective of this study was to explore the experiences and level of awareness among Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, who were trained and encouraged to participate as educators in a school-based intervention for safe Internet use.

Methods: All  directors of the PHC centers of the 3rd Health Authority of the prefecture of Macedonia, Greece  were asked to invite their  personnel to participate voluntarily in a project on safe Internet use.  Participants  attended an one-day train-the-trainers course on cyber-safety in order to serve as educators in a school-based intervention in their communities. An evaluation questionnaire was completed anonymously and voluntarily by the professionals one month after  completion of the school intervention. The answers to the open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Results: Forty-six PHC professionals from 13 PHC centers (PHC centers' response rate 72.2%) were trained and served as educators to 30 middle and 21 high schools, reaching 8053 students from urban (22.5%), semi-urban 36.3%) and rural areas (41.2%). The experience  was evaluated as positive by all 46 (100%) professionals, who recognized the following benefits: a) acquisition of new knowledge on pathological Internet use, b)  ethical reward for  raising awareness in students on the potential threats of Internet use, c)  revitalizing effect of the interaction with youth, and d)  re-enforcement of cooperation and team spirit.

Conclusions: The combined trainee's and  trainer's experience could be rewarding and satisfying, contributing in raising PCH professionals' own awareness on new topics that should be included in their continuous educational agenda. Furthermore, involvement of trained PHC providers as educators in school-based interventions could reinforce their role in  health promotion within their communities, both urban and rural.