MEST : A School- Based Health Literacy Intervention Trial

NCT07601815 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SDAM_FOR555624 /NIPH 6107-6107
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,800
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the MEST work strategy in upper secondary schools. MEST is a school based, health promoting intervention delivered by school health services and designed to strengthen students' health literacy and mental well being. The study assesses whether implementation of the MEST work strategy results in improved health literacy and mental well being compared with usual school health services. This study is a cluster randomized superiority trial in which upper secondary schools are assigned either to an intervention group implementing the MEST work strategy or to a control group continuing with school health services as usual. Student reported outcomes are collected using digitally administered questionnaires during school hours at baseline, prior to initiation of the intervention, and at 4 and 9 months following intervention initiation (end of the school year).

Conditions

Health Literacy; Adolescent Health

Keywords

Health Promotion; School Health Services; Upper Secondary School

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• General Health Literacy

  General health literacy assessed using the Health Literacy Survey 2019 - Young Persons 12-item scale (HLS19 YP12). The instrument consists of 12 items, each rated on a 4 point scale. Total scores range from 12 to 48, with higher scores indicating higher (better) levels of health literacy.

  Baseline, 4 months, 9 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Mental Health Literacy

  Baseline, 4 months, 9 months

• Mental Well-Being

  Baseline, 4 months, 9 months

Study Arms (2)

MEST Work Strategy

EXPERIMENTAL

Schools assigned to the intervention arm receive the MEST work strategy delivered by school health services during regular school hours over one school year. The intervention is designed to strengthen students' general health literacy through structured learning activities, facilitated discussions, and individual follow up when needed.

Other: MEST Work Strategy

Control- School Health Servics as usual

NO INTERVENTION

Schools assigned to the control arm continue with school health services as usual throughout the study period. Usual care includes routine health promotion activities and access to individual consultations provided within the existing school health services. Schools in the control arm are not exposed to the MEST work strategy during the study period.

Interventions

MEST Work Strategy OTHER

The MEST work strategy is needs based and adaptive. An anonymous, digitally administered MEST survey conducted prior to intervention initiation informs the selection and tailoring of intervention topics throughout the school year. This survey is used solely to guide intervention delivery and is not included in the outcome evaluation. Intervention activities may include classroom based sessions, school wide seminars, small thematic group activities, and individual consultations provided by the school health services, depending on identified student needs. All activities are conducted on school premises using existing school facilities and digital infrastructure.

MEST Work Strategy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Students 16-24 years
• Students enrolled in upper secondary school classes
• Provided informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• \- Students \<16 years and \> 24 years

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian Institute of Public Health: lead

Study Sites (1)

Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)

Levanger, Trøndelag, 7600, Norway

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Bjornsen HN, Ringdal R, Espnes GA, Eilertsen MB, Moksnes UK. Exploring MEST: a new universal teaching strategy for school health services to promote positive mental health literacy and mental wellbeing among Norwegian adolescents. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018 Dec 29;18(1):1001. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3829-8.

  PMID: 30594201 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Hanne N Bjørnsen, RN, MS, MPH, PhD

  Norwegian Institute of Public Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hanne N Bjørnsen, RN, MS, MPH, PhD

CONTACT

004790107526; hanne.nissen.bjornsen@fhi.no

Hilde E Toreid, RN, MS

CONTACT

004790874102; hilde.elisabeth.toreid@fhi.no

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2026
• First Posted: May 22, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): August 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (1)