Role of health-oriented programs in improving the school\'s organizational culture

Background and Objectives: School organizational culture is one of the most effective assets in promoting school goals and programs and implementing health-oriented programs is one of the important demands of the family along with the education of the students. The purpose of this study was to explain the dimensions of school-based health programs that are instrumental in the development of school organizational culture. Materials and Methods: In this mix method study, focusing on phenomenological studies was used to gain a deep understanding of the situation under study from the school's ecosystem information. Data were obtained from structured interviews with 30 school principals and staff in the area of health programs and school organizational culture, observations and assessment checklists. Based on the systematic coding method, the main categories were obtained. After obtaining the selected codes, a researcher-made questionnaire was developed. Its validity and reliability were confirmed by test-retest and Its Cronbach's alpha test was 0.794. Then, a sample of 1329 stakeholders was Surveyed into 5 groups (students, teachers, staff, parents). Results: The results, while endorsing the categories by the stakeholders, showed that health-based programs are effective in developing school organizational culture through strengthening participatory culture, organizational learning, empowering and strengthening citizenship culture. Conclusion: The essence of health-oriented programs is a cultural program, both based on knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors in identifying the future lives of students and the community. These influential programs in the area of school organizational culture that need for health of their audiences, as an effective tool for school success, should be the focus by educational planners and leadership.