Long-term impacts of health education on university music students: A retrospective qualitative case study

The high prevalence of physical and mental health problems among music students is well documented. To address playing-related health risks, many tertiary institutions include health education programmes in their core curricula; however, the long-term impact of these programmes remains unexplored. This study investigated the retrospective reflections of 10 fourth-year music students regarding a health education course they completed during their first year. The study aimed to explore the course’s perceived impact in fostering learning and behaviour change. The findings reveal that the course greatly enhanced students’ awareness and knowledge of health promotion and injury prevention. Participants reported substantial positive changes in health-related and practice-related behaviours, indicating transformative learning. These findings corroborate existing literature on the benefits of health-promotion programmes for music students, underscoring the essential role such courses play in music students’ education, providing valuable evidence for the long-term efficacy of musicians’ occupational health education.