Abstract

Recent surveys on Lithuanian schoolchildren health and lifestyles showed negative shifts, but most of teachers, also physical education teachers, give preference to their subject, but not to health education. A professional attitude of physical education teachers, their innovations in process of physical education was studied by Lithuanian and foreign researchers. However these studies are only partly associated with the health competence aspects of physical education teachers. The article was designed to analyze expression of health education competence of Lithuanian physical education teachers. The aim of the study was to determine health education competence of Lithuanian physical education teachers that allows promoting schoolchildren’s health. The study was based on anonymous questionnaire. Study sample consisted of 350 physical education teachers from secondary schools. Study population was selected randomly from the Lithuanian teachers of physical education ensuring that representatives from all districts will fall in to the study group. Statistical analysis of empirical data was performed using SPSS PC (version 8). Results were considered in demographic and qualifying category aspects. To assess contingency tables, Chi2-test was used. Factorial analysis was performed with the purpose to make groups of the teacher’s abilities related to health education. Factorial analysis was done on the basis of correlation matrix using Principal Components (Varimax) method. It was found that every third-fourth physical education teacher self-evaluated their health education competence as insufficient. The ability to integrate health education topics into lessons of physical education was evaluated as insufficient significantly more often by representatives from countryside schools compared to those from city schools. Physical education teachers reported difficulties creating healthy surroundings, methodically directing students to harden off, conducting lessons outdoors in winter, working with the students of impaired health, explaining links between exercising and nutrition. Lack of these abilities was more emphasized by countryside teachers, and those who haven’t got higher physical education. Groups of teacher’s health education abilities extracted by the factorial analysis showed that special abilities of the physical education subject and general abilities (communication, collaboration) are less important compared to special health education abilities for successful implementation of health education tasks during the lessons of physical education. The study results suggest that projecting the prevention points of schoolchildren’s health it is important to extend, adjust and implement more single-minded theoretical and practical content of health education for present and coming teachers of physical education. Verf.-Referat