Evaluation of Project Health Pact: A participatory, assertive, consumer training program applied to fourth graders

A quasi-experimental, two-group, pretest/posttest design was used to evaluate effectiveness of Project Health PACT in 56 fourth graders of middle-income families from one public school. The 27 experimental group students received PACT with standard health curriculum; 29 control group students received only standard health curriculum. Both groups took pre- and posttests: Children's Health Locus of Control Scale (CHLCS) and Participatory Health Cognitive Test (PHCT). The experimental group showed a significant (p $\le$.05) gain from pre- to posttest scores on both measures; experimental group posttest scores were higher than control group posttest scores with PHCT scores significantly (p $\le$.05) higher. Integration of PACT with standard health curriculum was effective in altering subjects' health locus of control in a more internal direction and in increasing knowledge. Findings can be used to plan school health education courses towards a goal of affecting future health statistics.