results demonstrated significant improvements across all four modules, emphasizing the importance of exposing students to healthcare-related topics and reinforcing preventive health behaviors. 6
Recognizing the limited data on youth health education programs, our study mirrors the HNVP in its modular structure and high school age range focus. However, our study targets four critical health issues specific to West Virginia( WV) as follows: substance misuse, physical activity, mental health, and continuing education. 6 WV’ s rural and medically underserved populations face barriers such as limited provider availability, health illiteracy, and stigma around accessing care. These barriers disproportionately affect adolescents, many of whom rely on schools as their primary point of health education and social support. 4-6
The urgency for such programs in WV is evident due to concerning statistics. In 2022, 85 % of eighth graders and 78 % of fourth graders were not proficient in math and reading. 7 Compared to the national proficiency average, 39 % of fourth graders and 32 % of eighth graders scored below the National Assessment of Educational Progress basic level in reading. 8 Additionally, in WV, 35 % of children were chronically absent during the 2021-2022 school year compared to the national average of 30 %. 7, 9 Health outcomes are equally concerning. WV reports concerning rates of heart disease, strokes and diabetes, along with high pre-term births and deaths due to drug poisoning. 10 Furthermore, 26.3 % of adults rated their health as fair or poor, more than double the national average of 12.6 %. 10 Life expectancy for newborns was only 72.8 years in 2020. These statistics underscore the need for interventions to improve educational achievement, health outcomes, and overall well-being in the state. 11 The state’ s challenges are even more pronounced due to the rural nature of many communities and the shortage of healthcare providers in WV. Several counties, including Wayne County, where this study was conducted, are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas( HP- SAs), highlighting the limited access to primary care and health education resources. These rural and underserved designations
TABLE 1: 2025 Spring Valley High School Demographics 8 School / Student Characteristics Total Enrollment( N) 985 Percent Female 47 % Percent Male 53 % Student to Teacher Ratio 15:1
Statistics
Graduation Rate 84 %( Bottom 50 % in WV) Overall Testing Rate Bottom 50 %
TABLE 2: Model Descriptions Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4
Title |
Substance Misuse |
Physical |
|
|
Activity and |
|
|
Obesity |
Topics Drug types, addiction cycle, stigma, treatment
Activities Drug trivia game, stigma discussion, myth busting
Healthy lifestyle, BMI, exercise benefits
Exercise bingo, lifestyle quiz, healthy food plate design
underscore the urgency of implementing targeted interventions to improve health literacy and access to care in adolescent populations. 8, 12
The primary objective of this study was to assess high school students’ comfort levels, awareness of these topics, and willingness to engage in discussions with healthcare providers. The study assessed these variables collectively by pre- and post-module surveys to determine whether statistically significant differences could be detected. Based on the results of the HNVP, the study also utilizes modules that were designed and delivered by medical students. Having medical students in the educator role leveraged their knowledge to effectively bridge the gap between scientific health knowledge and relatability for high school students in WV.
The goal of this project was to create a sustainable modular program, focused on substance misuse, physical activity and
Adult Education
Postsecondary pathways, job training, financial aid
Career pathway boardgame, FAFSA overview
Mental Health Services
Depression, anxiety, coping skills, communication
Stress ball activity, group guided meditation
obesity, adult education, and mental health services, that improve students’ health awareness and their willingness to discuss health topics with healthcare providers.
METHODS
In September 2024, 112 students from health and physical education classes at Spring Valley High School in rural Wayne County, WV, participated in the study( Table 1). The students, aged 14-17 years, were recruited from these classes to take part in the study. The students represented socioeconomic diversity based on school demographic data. 8 The school was selected not only for its interest in hosting the study modules but also because it resides in a HPSA-designated rural county. 12 HPSA designation was essential for this study, as this project’ s emphasis was based on working with students in a rural setting.
According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Wayne County had a population of 38,982 as of 2020, placing it in a predominantly
West Virginia Medical Journal • March 2026 • 17