Attach 6

Attachment 6: Recruitment Materials

Health Behaviors in School-Age Children (HBSC)

SURVEY FACT SHEET
Q. Why is the survey being done?
A. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will use the survey results to
help measure and understand how many youth use behaviors that have good
and bad effects on their health. The survey results also will be used to create
school health programs and campaigns such as the anti-bullying campaign for
students www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov) to help encourage good behaviors and
reduce problem behaviors.
Q. What kinds of questions are asked on the HBSC?
A. The 2009/2010 HBSC survey is designed to gather information on a variety of
health-related behaviors and attitudes relevant to today's youth. The survey asks
questions about nutrition, dieting practices, physical activity, violence, injuries,
relationships with family and friends, perceptions of school as a supportive
environment, alcohol and tobacco use, drug use, and the community in which
students live.
Q. Will students’ names be used or linked to the surveys?
A. No. The survey has been designed to protect your child=s privacy. Students do not
put their name on the survey. When students finish the survey, they place it in an
envelope and seal it shut. The envelopes are then placed in a big box. Reports
will not include names of participating counties, cities, school districts, schools, or
students.
Q. Do students take the survey more than once to see how their behaviors
change?
A. No. Every four years a new group of States, schools, and students is picked.
Students who take part one year cannot be followed because their names are not
on the survey.
Q. How was my child picked to be in the survey?
A. About 14,000 students from 420 schools were picked to take part across the country.
In each school, one or two classes (about 25 students) in each grade 6 through 10
are picked randomly (like the flip of a coin) to participate.

Q. How long does it take to fill out the survey? Does the survey include a
physical test?
A. One class period is needed to fill out the written survey, which has approximately 80
multiple choice questions. The survey does not include a physical test or exam.
Q. Does the survey have national support?
A. Yes. The following national health and education organizations have indicated
their support of the HBSC Survey: American Academy of Pediatrics, American
Federation of Teachers, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association,
American School Health Association, Council of Chief State School Officers,
National Association of School Nurses, Inc., National Association of State Boards
of Education, National Education Association, National Mental Health Association,
National PTA, New York Academy of Medicine, and The Society of State
Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

FACT Sheet
The Health Behaviors in School-Age Children (HBSC) Survey is the only national
survey of early adolescent health behavior in the United States. The 2009-10 HBSC
international, World Health Organization-affiliated health survey is being conducted
in 40 other nations in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and focuses on
selected health attitudes and behaviors that account for the majority of immediate
and long-term sources of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth in
grades 6 through 10. This will be the fourth U.S. administration of the HBSC
survey, previously administered in 1997-98, 2001-02, and 2005-06. It is funded by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More specifically, it is
sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Maternal and Child
Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Q. How does this HBSC survey differ from all of the other surveys on health
behavior?
A. This is the only national survey of early adolescent health behavior in the United
States. Most other health surveys (such as the YRBS or Monitoring the Future) focus
on monitoring changes in specific health behaviors within a population (but not the
same students) over time. The HBSC does that, but also tries to shed light on the
determinants of health behavior. By understanding what circumstances place students
at greater risk, it is possible to identify kinds of actions that could be taken to reduce
their risk. In addition, the international aspect of the HBSC opens windows on
differences across countries so we can exchange insights and strategies in areas where
certain countries have been more successful in containing particular risk behaviors.

Q. Who supports this survey?
A. The following national health and education organizations have indicated their
support of the HBSC: the National Coordinating Committee on School Health and
Safety, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Health
Education, American Association of School Administrators, American Cancer Society,
American Lung Association, American School Health Association, Council of Chief
State School Officers, National Association of School Nurses, Inc., National
Association of State Boards of Education, National Mental Health Association, The
National PTA, The New York Academy of Medicine, The Society for Public Health
Education, and The Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and
Recreation.

Q. How will the results of this study be used?
A. HBSC data have been widely published in the past in reports and articles based on
a single country and on groups of countries. The data are used by policy makers,
government agencies, curriculum developers, education agencies, and community
organizations to change or develop new policies, target public information campaigns,
modify programs, and explore strategies that have worked successfully in other
countries. As an example, findings from the HBSC resulted in the development of a
Federally-sponsored anti-bullying campaign for students
(www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov), addressing a problem with which educational
administrators across the country have struggled, namely, bullying. This anti-bullying
public education campaign in the United States was modeled partly on successful
experiences in other countries, such as Norway. Similarly, other countries look to the
United States for suggestions on curbing tobacco use among young people.

Q. What is the World Health Organization (WHO)? What is their role in the
HBSC?
A. The WHO is the health arm of the United Nations. Its mission is to see that all
people attain the highest possible level of physical, mental, and social well-being. WHO
serves as a collaborating partner with the 40 participating nations conducting the
HBSC. It also has been instrumental in the development, publication, and
dissemination of the international reports, which result from the surveys.

Q. Who will conduct the survey?
A. The CDM Group and Abt Associates, two nationally recognized survey research
firms, have been contracted by NICHD to work with school districts, schools, and
students to conduct the survey. This research team has years of experience working
with schools and students and is committed to ensuring that the data collection will
be carried out with as little inconvenience to your school, your faculty, and your
students as possible. The research team will select a sample of schools, schedule data
collection, administer the surveys, and assist in the analysis of data and reporting of
survey results.

Q. How were schools selected?
A. A sample of schools was selected randomly in a way that ensures appropriate
representation of urban, suburban, and rural schools. The probability of a school’s
selection was based on the size of the student enrollment in grades 6 through 10.

Q. What do schools receive for participating in the HBSC?
A. All participating schools will receive a copy of any major report resulting from the
HBSC. In addition, as a symbol of appreciation for contributing their time and support
and for being a significant partner in the HBSC, $500 is made available to each
participating school. We encourage schools to use these funds to purchase
educational materials. However, no restrictions will be placed on how schools can use
these funds. Teachers in the selected classes will also receive a $25 on-line gift
certificate to purchase software, books, or games for the students in their classrooms.

Q. What if school districts, schools, or students do not choose to participate?
A. Participation in the 2009-10 HBSC is voluntary. However, to develop accurate
national estimates of priority health-risk attitudes and behaviors among youth,
participation rates must be high. Your participation rate will help ensure that U.S.
teen health research and programs are based on realistic information

Q. Is student participation anonymous? How is student privacy protected?
A. Survey administration procedures are designed to protect student privacy and allow
for anonymous participation. The survey is administered by data collectors hired by
the research team and not affiliated with the school. Students will seal their completed
questionnaires in envelopes. No personal identifiers are used on any of these
materials. Reports will not include names of participating cities, school districts,
schools, or students.

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

Q. How many students will be surveyed altogether?
A. In the United States, our goal is that at least 14,000 students in randomly selected
participating schools will complete the HBSC survey. Each of the 40 other
participating countries has its own goals.

Q. What grades are included?
A. In the United States, the 2009-10 HBSC will be administered to students in grades
6 through 10. This includes students from public, parochial, and private schools with
one or more of these grades.

Q. How many students will be surveyed in each selected school?
A. This depends on several factors. Most schools contain only two or three grade levels
in grades 6 through 10. Some contain all five levels. Typically, one class section will be
selected at each grade level.

Q. What kinds of questions are asked on the HBSC?
A. The 2009-10 HBSC survey is designed to gather information on a variety of healthrelated behaviors and attitudes relevant to today’s youth. The survey asks questions
about nutrition and dietary practices, physical activity, injuries, violence, relationships
with family and friends, perceptions of school as a supportive environment, alcohol
and tobacco use, drug use, and the communities in which the students live.

Q. How long does it take to fill out the questionnaire?
A. Approximately one 45-minute class period is needed for administration of the
paper-and-pencil questionnaire. This includes distributing the survey materials,
reading directions to the students, and collecting the completed multiple-choice
questionnaires. No physical test or examination is involved.

Q. Do students answer the questions truthfully?
A. Research indicates that data of this nature may be gathered as reliably from
adolescents as from adults. Internal reliability checks help identify the small
percentage of students who falsify their answers. To obtain truthful answers, students
must perceive the survey as important and know procedures have been developed to
protect their privacy and allow for anonymous participation.

Q. Who administers the survey to the students?
A. A specially trained data collector hired by the HBSC research team conducting the
survey will be sent to each school to administer the survey. This helps assure
students that their answers will not be seen by school personnel. It also reduces the
work for the participating schools.

Q. How is the HBSC coordinated at each school?
A. Each principal will be asked to designate someone at the school to serve as a
School Survey Liaison (SSL). The SSL will work closely with the HBSC research team
to coordinate the visit, alleviating the burden of the extra work from the principal or
other school staff. The SSL, who will be paid a stipend of $200 for helping with HBSC,
will be asked to help promote the survey in the school by answering questions and
being an enthusiastic supporter, distribute parental notification forms to the teachers
of the selected classes, and prepare the school for the data collection visit in the fall or
winter.

Q. When will the data be collected?
A. Data collection will be scheduled for October, 2009 through February, 2010. The
HBSC research team will work closely with the SSL and school principal to set a visit
schedule that is convenient for the school.

Q. Will school-level data be collected? If yes, who will provide this data?
A. The principal (or designate) will be asked to answer a brief questionnaire about
their health education policies and curricula. This questionnaire can be completed
over the internet for the principal’s convenience.

Q. How can we get a copy of the survey results?
A. Copies of aggregate results will be sent automatically to each of the participating
schools.

Q. Where can additional information be obtained?
A. To obtain additional information about the 2009-10 Health Behaviors in School-Age
Children Survey, contact Ms. Mary Ann D’Elio of The CDM Group, Inc. at toll-free
(888) 246-9626.

The Health Behaviors in School-age Children
(HBSC) survey was last conducted in 2006.
It is now time to update what we know
about the health behaviors of students in

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
DESPR, Prevention Research Branch
and

the United States. Just like before, we will
ask about what students eat, their physical
activity, their recent injuries, their exposure

Health Resources and Services Administration
Maternal and Child Health Bureau

to violence, their use of alcohol, tobacco,
and drugs, how they get along with family
and friends, how they feel about the
support they get from their school, and
about the communities in which they live.

Mary Ann D’Elio, M.S.
The CDM Group
(toll-free) 888-246-9626
[email protected]

Health Behaviors in

SCHOOL-AGE

CHILDREN:
US Survey

Why should my child participate?
Surveys such as this are very important for
learning what needs to be done to improve
students’ health in the U.S. and whether
existing programs are successful.

Who will take the survey?
About 14,000 U.S. students from the 6th
through 10th grades will take the survey. All of
the school districts, schools, and classrooms that
are taking part were selected by chance. Surveys
will be conducted in your children's classrooms
by trained staff who have lots of experience
working with schools and students. Participation
is voluntary, but we hope everyone who is asked
will complete the survey.

The things we learn will be used to create
educational programs that will reduce
problems. For example, in the past,
information from the survey was used to
help start an anti-bullying campaign for
students (www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov).

What will my child be asked to do?
Students will mark their answers to the survey
questions. It takes about 30-40 minutes to
complete. Each school and each classroom will
get a gift to help them buy supplies for the
students to use. Each student will get a small
school-related gift as well.

How will my child's answers be
kept private?
Student names are not put on the survey
forms. The information we collect will only
be reported for the nation as a whole.
Answers are never reported for individual
students, schools, or school districts, and the
names of schools, school districts, or their
locations are never shared with anyone.