This project is funded The UCL Health of the Publish Small Grants Scheme and will run from January 2022 to March 2024.
Background
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature mortality in high-income countries (HIC), with over 70% of cases attributable to modifiable behavioural and cardiometabolic risk factors. Multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors developed in childhood are associated with the development of cardiovascular events in adulthood. The promotion of cardiovascular health in childhood represents a great opportunity for primary prevention.
The primary objective of our project is to develop and enhance an existing primary school-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) programme by incorporating robust evidence from school-based health promotion research studies and educational theory to determine the key factors and mechanisms of action, that will inform a more effective behaviour change intervention and future research priorities in this important area of work.
Our multidisciplinary project team consists of academics, researchers, clinical academics and school-based leaders from: UCL IOE, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Barts Health NHS Trust, QMUL and The East London Research School.
Methodology
The research takes an evidence-based participatory approach to further develop and refine a health-education intervention programme on CVD prevention, delivered through a network of schools in East London. The project includes the following phases:
- Phase 1 - Scoping exercise: to conceptually map and describe the key features of successful public health interventions delivered in primary schools.
- Phase 2 - Logic Model: to develop an evidence-based health-education programme logic model which illustrates mechanisms supporting positive behavioural outcomes to support CVD prevention among primary school children.
- Phase 3 - Intervention programme: to design a co-produced intervention with new intervention materials to support CVD prevention deliver in primary schools.
Impact
Our research addresses the evidence gap of how school-based health interventions can be best delivered to positively impact children’s learning and knowledge of cardiovascular health promotion and healthy lifestyle. We are committed to knowledge exchange and user engagement. Our work with children, teachers and schools through stakeholder consultations over the course of the project will contribute to ongoing knowledge exchange in reinforcing positive health messaging in the classroom.
A key component of our plans is to bring together a multidisciplinary community of interested academics and practitioners from across the health and educational sectors to maximise the potential impact of our research-informed intervention. To achieve this, our project draws upon the vast expertise and established partnerships with The Centre of the Cell QMUL, the British Health Foundation and the East London Research School to engage in cross-disciplinary learnings on cardiovascular disease prevention.
Team
Project leads
- Dr Kelly Dickson
- Professor Lynn Ang
Members
- Professor Riyaz Patel
- Dr Mohammed Khanji
- Meg Wiggins
- Selam Petros
Publications
- Ang, L., Dickson, K., Petros, S., Ives, C., Cliffe, S., Khanji, M., & Patel, R. (2026). Cardiovascular health promotion through primary schools: A systematic mapping and review of reviews. Health Education Journal, 0(0).
Contact us
The UCL Institute of Education
University College London
18 Woburn Square
London, WC1H 0NR
Image at the top
snowing12 via Adobe Stock.