Professionals’ and Students’ Perceived Needs for an Online Supportive Application for Reducing School Absence and Stimulating Reintegration: Concept Mapping Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND To limit students’ medical school absenteeism and premature school dropout in the Netherlands, the Medical Advice for Sick-reported Students (MASS) intervention was developed to enhance collaboration between students, parents, school and health care professionals. MASS reduces medical absenteeism. However, it does not yet optimally support professionals in monitoring students, nor automatically stimulate students’ autonomy regarding their own situation. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify professionals’ and students’ perceived need for an online supportive application to monitor and reduce absenteeism and stimulate student autonomy and school reintegration. METHODS Concept mapping sessions were held with professionals (n=23) and students (n=27) (in group meetings or online) to identify their perspectives and needs. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering was done with Ariadne 3.0 software. The resulting concept maps were re-clustered and interpreted by four researchers. RESULTS Three heterogeneous groups of professionals generated 17 clusters (135 unique statements)/, with a mean importance rating ranging from 2.9-4.6 on a 1-5 Likert scale. Three heterogeneous groups of secondary school students generated 18 clusters (95 unique statements), with a mean importance rating ranging from 3.2-4.6. Professionals considered as most important: easy accessible contact with students; supporting, motivating and rewarding students; monitoring absent students; providing information to students and their parents; exchanging information between professionals. Students considered as most important: better teacher-student communication and respect; communication between school professionals on the one hand and parents, other professionals and students on the other hand; guidance in missed learning materials and tests. Students perceived an online format for support as obvious option. CONCLUSIONS Both professionals and students were positive about an online application to support students in dealing with medical school absenteeism, especially from a need for better and easy accessible contact between students and professionals. An e/mHealth application addressing these aspects could stimulate student autonomy and have positive effects on medical school absenteeism.