School Health Services: Parents' and teachers' opinions

Background: Although School Health Services (SHS) are an efficient way of providing health care to children and adolescents, in recent years they have been curtailed in Israel. Objectives: To study parents' and teachers' knowledge about the content of SHS, their use and importance, and their preferred way of delivering these services. Methodology: From December 2006 - January 2007, teachers (n=304) of 2nd-12th-grade pupils and the pupils' parents (n=808) in state schools of the Hebrew education system (both secular and religious) were interviewed by phone. Parents were located by random dialing (response rate 63%), and the teachers from a Ministry of Education list (response rate 70%). Results: About 70% of parents and teachers knew that SHS provide immunizations 70% and 80% respectively, reported they provided first aid. Only 8% of the parents and 13% of the teachers reported that a nurse came at least three days a week to the school and most of them preferred that the nurse should come every day. Most respondents said that the SHS did important work. About a third of parents and 40% of teachers preferred that all health care services be provided in the schools by doctor and nurse 40% of parents and teachers wanted the nurse to provide counseling and that the rest of SHS content be provided by the regular primary health care providers 20% of parents and 14% of teachers preferred other options. Conclusions: Parents and teachers rate SHS as important and are prepared to consider alternatives for their delivery. This should be considered when re-organizing the SHS.