The COMPASS study: a longitudinal hierarchical research platform for evaluating natural experiments related to changes in school-level programs, policies and built environment resources.
BMC Public Health
; 14: 331, 2014 Apr 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24712314
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Few researchers have the data required to adequately understand how the school environment impacts youth health behaviour development over time. METHODS/DESIGN:
COMPASS is a prospective cohort study designed to annually collect hierarchical longitudinal data from a sample of 90 secondary schools and the 50,000+ grade 9 to 12 students attending those schools. COMPASS uses a rigorous quasi-experimental design to evaluate how changes in school programs, policies, and/or built environment (BE) characteristics are related to changes in multiple youth health behaviours and outcomes over time. These data will allow for the quasi-experimental evaluation of natural experiments that will occur within schools over the course of COMPASS, providing a means for generating "practice based evidence" in school-based prevention programming.DISCUSSION:
COMPASS is the first study with the infrastructure to robustly evaluate the impact that changes in multiple school-level programs, policies, and BE characteristics within or surrounding a school might have on multiple youth health behaviours or outcomes over time. COMPASS will provide valuable new insight for planning, tailoring and targeting of school-based prevention initiatives where they are most likely to have impact.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
School Health Services
/
Health Behavior
/
Environment Design
/
Policy
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Public Health
Journal subject:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada