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3. METHODS

The scoping review was undertaken in two parts: (i) searching and screening to
identify relevant evidence, and (ii) systematic coding and analysis to describe the
relevant evidence. The review was limited to evidence published within the last 10
years where abstracts were available in the English language.

3.1 Identifying relevant studies

3.1.1 Conceptual issues

In order to identify relevant literature we based our searching and screening
strategies on the description of the life check in the White Paper (Department of
Health, 2006). We worked with the following definition of a life check as an
intervention which included:

• an emotional and/or physical health check-up provided by an adult (e.g. health
professional) or a peer or self-assessment through, for example, a self-
completion questionnaire; AND

• feedback, advice, support or referral following the emotional and/or physical
health check-up; OR

• the development of personal health guides or plans following the emotional
and/or physical health check-up.

In line with the focus of the life check on the promotion of physical and emotional
health, interventions focused on a population with a pre-existing health condition
(e.g. asthma, diabetes, obesity) or those focused on a population referred by a
third party for further screening, diagnosis or treatment were NOT considered to
be a life check. Furthermore, because the proposed life check suggests more
than just screening, mass screening initiatives were not considered to be within
the scope of a life check.

The proposed life checks will take place at the transition between primary and
secondary school at the ages 12 to 13 years. However the transition point
between primary and secondary school may occur at different stages in other
countries. In order to identify international evidence on life checks, we focused on
a wider age range of 9 to 14 years.

Physical and emotional health are broad concepts and can be measured in
different ways. We did not pre-specify relevant outcomes for studies which
assessed the effectiveness of life checks. We considered all studies that had
measured any aspect of physical or emotional health.

We identified three bodies of literature in which we might find relevant evidence
on life check interventions: (1) health promotion and public health, including
screening, school medicals, school nurses, and the health promotion work of GPs
and primary care practitioners); (2) resilience and wellbeing; and (3) youth

A scoping review of the evidence relevant to life checks for young people aged 9 to 14 years

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