Experiences on Educational and Executive Factors in Relation with the Efficacy of Education to Prevent Behaviors and Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Schools of Isfahan City, Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: Schools play a key role in promotion of health education. This article analyzed the factors affecting the education to prevent non-communicable diseases from the viewpoints of educational and executive factors in schools of Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted using qualitative approach with conventional content analysis. Participants were 19 staff working in schools of Isfahan City in educational year of 2017-2018, who were selected through purposive sampling with the highest variation. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using deductive content analysis. Findings: Obtained codes were placed in 8 main categories and 23 subcategories. The main categories included "the effect of macro health policymaking on the efficacy of education", "strategic health system", "the role of the educational system in promoting health", "informal learning", "the role of schools in healthy nutrition models and physical activity development", "preventive strategies in health promotion", "lifestyle as a multi-factorial phenomenon with mutual interaction", and "the effect of stress and depression on health". Conclusion: Life style modification and updating school educations are effective factors in the efficacy of education to prevent non-communicable diseases.