4. Results
activity assessment, stage-based goal setting followed by brief health-care
provider counselling, and 12 months of monthly mail and telephone counselling
(Patrick et al., 2001; 2006). Again in the USA, Puskar et al. (1996) and Supple et
al. (1999) both focused on mental health and wellbeing. Supple et al. (1999)
evaluated the effectiveness of a computerised, self-administered, questionnaire
on young people’s self-reported substance use and psychological wellbeing.
Puskar et al. (1996) evaluated the effectiveness of distance mental health
screening by nurses for rural youth using a facsimile system.
One study which did not neatly fit within any of the groups discussed above is a
substantial report with a number of evaluations of the Scottish initiative to
introduce Family Health Plans (FHP) (Shucksmith et al., 2003). The FHP has
been described as a tool which enables a family to think more actively and
critically about their health, social and communal needs in partnership with a
health visitor. The contents of the FHP would be agreed with and held by the
family, and include a set of goals and actions to achieve them. The report
contained surveys examining the attitudes of parents, carers and health providers
to the FHP, a summary and evaluation of the FHP pilot projects in operation, and
a review of the published literature relevant to FHPs.
4.3.3 Studies examining acceptability
Eleven studies were identified as potential sources of evidence about the
acceptability of life checks to young people. Some of the studies had examined
acceptability alongside effectiveness (Harrison et al., 2001; Paperny, 1997;
Supple et al., 1999; Vander Stoep et al., 2005; Walker et al., 2000; 2002). Other
studies focused solely on acceptability and feasibility issues (Borup and Holstein,
2004; Borup, 1998; 2000; Ercan et al., 2006; Hill and Morton, 2003).
Five studies focused on the acceptability of computerised self-assessment tools.
Ercan et al. (2006) asked young people in the UK for their views on a website to
promote emotional health (www.ru-ok.com). The website features a self-
assessment tool followed by advice and feedback on how to sort out everyday
problems. Supple et al. (1999) compared the attitudes of young people in the USA
attending health clinics towards either a computerised or pencil or paper self-
assessment tool focused on substance use and psychological wellbeing. Paperny
(1997) asked young people in schools in the USA for their views on a
computerised tool to assess their behaviour in relation to HIV/STDs. Finally,
Harrison (2003) asked young people for their views on a stand-alone
computerised screening process located in school-based health centres in the
USA.
In the remaining seven studies, it was not possible to tell whether assessments of
acceptability focused on specific aspects of an intervention. Three studies asked
young people in Denmark about their experiences and satisfaction with a ‘health
dialogue’ with their school nurse (Borup and Holstein, 2004; Borup, 1998; 2000).
The annual ‘health dialogue’ aimed to enable young people to make healthy
choices and to stay healthy into adult life, and has replaced and reduced routine
screening of height, weight, hearing and vision. Vander-Stoep et al. (2005) asked
young people in US schools for their views on emotional health screening at the
middle school transition. Two studies asked young people in the UK for their
views on an intervention which invited them to attend a consultation with a
practice nurse to discuss health behaviours (Walker et al., 2000; 2002). The final
study in this group asked young people and their parents in the UK for their views
A scoping review of the evidence relevant to life checks for young people aged 9 to 14 years
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