The investigation of health education in the Irish education system: an identification of misconceptions and knowledge gaps relating to cancer in second level students, pre-service teachers and practicing

Rising cancer rates coupled with a deteriorating health status among young people in Ireland is a cause for serious concern. Studies examining the health of young people in Ireland have highlighted teenage obesity, low levels of physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption as areas for concern. These factors can play a substantial role in a teenager’s health, specifically their risk of developing cancers, moving from adolescence to adulthood. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the level of cancer related health education currently integrated into the Irish Education System and to identify health related misconceptions and knowledge gaps in second level science pupils, pre-service science teachers and practicing science teachers. A pen and paper Identification Instrument was used to assess participants’ conceptual understanding of health education. The Identification Instrument utilized both open-ended and multiple-choice style questions in an attempt to ascertain a true understanding of participants’ beliefs. The findings of this study indicate that the level of health education, specifically relating to cancer in the Irish Education System is unacceptably low. This has given rise to a high incidence of misconceptions and knowledge gaps in second level science students, preservice science teachers and practicing science teachers. Participants were found to have equally low levels of awareness of how lifestyle factors can affect this risk of developing cancer. It was found that misconceptions do not reduce with level of study of participant thus highlighting that the levels of health education currently in place is not tackling the predominance of these misconceptions.