NEA Members Speak Up: Results of a national health issues survey of NEA members

NEA Members Speak
Up:
Results of a national health issues survey of NEA members

In Fall 2000, a survey to determine the predominant health and safety
information interests of the NEA membership was sent to random samples
of 600 teacher members and 600 support personnel members. Two hundred
or 33% for the teachers and 100 or 16.5% for the support personnel responded.
While not considered representative of NEA’s entire membership, the respondents
are considered to be those with a strong interest in health, safety and
lifestyle issues and who see NEA as a source of information about such
issues.

Key Issues
Each respondent was asked questions regarding health concerns they
have for themselves, their families and their students. Below are their
key issues:

Poor student health was seen as affecting the quality of learning.
About 1/3 of teachers felt that poor student health affected the quality
of learning in their schools a great deal. Another half felt that poor
student health affected the quality of learning somewhat.
There was high level of concern for health and safety among respondents.

Approximately half of respondents said that they had current concerns
for health issues for themselves. A similar proportion of respondents
were concerned for their families, and again, the same level of concern
was expressed for students.
Safety/violence issues, mental health and self care issues, and
environmental concerns were high priority for students, ESP, and teachers.

–Safety/violence in communities and schools, stress management,
and physical activity/exercise were high priorities for all groups.

–Domestic violence was first priority for students (teachers’ ratings)
and last for ESP and teachers; sexual assault/rape, substance abuse
concerns and sexual health had similar patterns. — Self esteem, depression,
and second-hand smoke were high priorities in two of the three groups.
Chronic diseases were a high priority for teachers/families followed
closely by ESP/families, but low for students (as rated by teachers).
Preferred method of receiving health information:
While video tapes and posters were the preferred media for conveying
information to students, ESP and teacher members preferred quicker transfers
of information from fact sheets and brochures and only looked to video
tapes as a third choice. Audio/cassette tapes were lowest.

Coming soon: How do you rate? Be a part of HIN’s national
health issues survey by answering a few quick questions.