Reasons for Health Office Visits in an Urban School District

McKevitt, Rosemary; Nader, Philip R.; Williamson, Mildred C.; Berrey, Rosalind

doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.1977.tb01062.x

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In line with other international reports, headaches were regarded as one of the most common reasons for students seeking help at the school nurses' office (6,7,13,14,17). However, the stated reasons for adolescents seeking help when presenting with headaches at the school health care have been questioned in that many of the students only want to rest and do not seek help specifically for their headaches complaints (13).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…In epidemiological studies, recurrent headaches have been found to be one of the most common health and pain complaints reported by school children and adolescents (1–5). Headaches are also one of the most common health problems among school children encountered in school health services, besides minor trauma and infections (6, 7). Although headache is a common health problem, school health personal see headaches in school children as causing only a slight disruption of their school functioning (8, 9).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those who had consulted a school nurse also had higher levels of headache activity than nonvisitors. Overall, headaches have been found to account for 6–10% of all student visits to the school nurse at all grade levels (6, 7). However, the validity of stated reasons for visiting the school nurse office because of somatic complaints including headaches has been questioned.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Swedish school nurses’ view of school health care utilization, causes and management of recurrent headaches among school children

Larsson

Zaluha

2003

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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The present survey was addressed to a representative, nationwide sample of Swedish school nurses and 174 (69%) responded. They were asked about their views on: (i) the most usual problems for students that prompt attendance at school nurses' offices; (ii) the causes and management of school children's headaches and (iii) the school nurses' own education with respect to headaches. Headaches were reported to be one of the most common problems among adolescents visiting the school nurses' offices and tension-type headaches were regarded as a more serious school health problem, compared with migraine. Various stressors such as family and peer problems were regarded as important causes of recurrent headaches. In addition, the school nurses mentioned too little physical activity, sleep problems and poor eating habits as related factors, in particular among students with tension-type headaches. Common management approaches used by the school nurses were to provide information about headaches or supportive discussion, recommend follow-up visits, perform vision tests and refer students to a school physician. About one-fifth to one-third of the school nurses often gave analgesic medication to students because of headaches, most commonly used were paracetamol followed by various NSAIDs. Most of the school nurses regarded relaxation training as an "effective or very effective" treatment for both migraine and tension-type headaches, whereas palliative and prophylactic drug treatments were seen as more effective for migraine. It is suggested that school nurses, who often provide the first line of treatment for school children and adolescents with recurrent headaches, also should administer a cost-effective treatment such as relaxation training in school settings, where many of the headache episodes occur. However, school nurses also need to be properly trained to ensure quality in delivering such treatment approaches.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Swedish school nurses’ view of school health care utilization, causes and management of recurrent headaches among school children

Larsson

Zaluha

2003

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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“…71, No. 4 needed to effect a general reorientation away from the natural tendencies among all health personnel to interact with clients in ways which tend to foster dependence upon the system. However, if such efforts could be concentrated on the school health service, then schools could become places where children could practice the skill of appropriate use of health services long before their misuse of them has major economic implications, either for themselves or for society.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does visiting the school health room teach appropriate or inappropriate use of health services.

Nader¹,

Brink²

1981

Am J Public Health

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This study examines the school health room visiting behavior, over two school years, of a random sample (N = 671) of urban children, grades K-5. Excluding eight students who visited regularly for medication (and who alone accounted for 25 per cent of all visits), 94 per cent of the students made at least one visit. Girls visited more frequently than boys (5.1 visits/year vs 4.1 visits/year). Girls were more likely to be in the frequent visitor group (P = 0.01); to have presented five or more different complaints (P = 0.02); and to have visited for stomachache (P less than or equal to 0.001). These sex differences were observed as early as first grade. Almost 58 per cent of the variance in visiting in the second year was predicted by frequency of visiting in the first. These data raise questions about the influence of the school in either reinforcing or modifying the health services utilization behavior of individuals.

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