AUTHOR=Raineri Alessia , Weber Manuel , Rüegger Seraina , Kriemler Susi , Puhan Milo A. 

TITLE=Improving the Conduct of Health-Related Research in Schools

JOURNAL=Public Health Reviews

VOLUME=Volume 46 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/public-health-reviews/articles/10.3389/phrs.2025.1608316

DOI=10.3389/phrs.2025.1608316

ISSN=2107-6952

ABSTRACT=BackgroundSchools serve not only as centers of education but also as critical environments for social development and promoting health and well-being of children and adolescents. Conducting health-related research in school settings offers valuable opportunities to identify current health challenges and assess preventive and interventional strategies.AnalysisResearchers face several challenges when conducting health-related research in schools, including communication barriers, complex coordination among relevant stakeholders, and limited resources.Policy OptionsThis policy brief, with a special focus on Switzerland, highlighted main challenges and presented options derived from literature, semi-structured interviews, and a stakeholder dialogue to address them. The dialogue included representatives from youth, parents, teachers, school principals, school authorities, and researchers. The results emphasize key options in three main areas: (i) recruitment and motivation, (ii) retention and incentives, and (iii) partnerships and collaboration.ConclusionMany of the proposed options do not require large-scale political shifts nor national-level policy changes but can directly be applied in schools and research settings, emphasizing their practical applicability and potential for immediate impact. Ultimately, implementing these options in health-related research in schools can contribute to long-term health and well-being of future generations.