Use of the informed health choices educational intervention to improve secondary students’ ability to think critically about health interventions in Uganda: A cluster-randomized trial

Abstract

Aim:: The aim was to evaluate the effect of the Informed Health Choices (IHC) educa- tional intervention on secondary students’ ability to assess health-related claims and make informed choices. Methods:: In a cluster-randomized trial, we randomized 80 secondary schools (stu- dents aged 13–17 years) in Uganda to the intervention or control (usual curriculum). The intervention included a 2-day teacher training workshop, 10 lessons accessed online by teachers and delivered in one school term. The lesson plans were developed for classrooms equipped with a blackboard or a blackboard and projector. The lessons addressed nine prioritized concepts. We used two multiple-choice questions for each concept to evaluate the students’ ability to assess claims and make informed choices. The primary outcome was the proportion of students with a passing score (≥9 of 18 questions answered correctly). Results:: Eighty schools consented and were randomly allocated. A total of 2477 stu- dents in the 40 intervention schools and 2376 students in the 40 control schools participated in this trial. In the intervention schools, 1364 (55%) of students that com- pleted the test had a passing score compared with 586 (25%) of students in the control schools (adjusted difference 33%, 95% CI 26%–39%). Conclusions:: The IHC secondary school intervention improved students’ ability to think critically and make informed choices. Well-designed digital resources may improve access to educational material, even in schools without computers or other information and communication technology (ICT). This could facilitate scaling-up use of the resources and help to address inequities associated with limited ICT access.