Development and exploratory testing of a school-based educational program for healthy life behaviors among fifth grade children in South Korea.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop an educational program to promote healthy life behaviors and to evaluate its potential effects on the health practices of fifth grade elementary school children. Methods: The program, which consisted of six categories (daily life and health, disease prevention and management, prevention of drug misuse and overuse, sexuality and health, mental health, and injury prevention and first aid), was developed based on the ADDIE model. A pretest–post‐test, one‐group, quasi‐experimental design was used with 85 elementary school students who voluntarily participated in the program. Results: A school‐based educational program, called the “Six Kid Keys,” referring to the six categories of healthy life behaviors, was developed. Significant pre–post differences in two of the six healthy life behavior categories (disease prevention and management, injury prevention and first aid) were found. Conclusion: A school‐based intervention that was aimed at changing habits related to healthy life behaviors could be effective for elementary school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]