School Health Personnel Research Articles

Health Behavior Correlates of Depression in a Sample of High School Students

Frequency of symptoms of depression and selected health-related practices and events were measured in a sample of 219 high school students. Students reported numerous symptoms of depression. Relative proportions of boys and girls reporting symptoms of depression were not significantly different. However, girls reported experiencing more severe depression than their male counterparts. Depression correlated significantly with several of the 22 health practices and states of affect examined. Both the determinants and manifestations of depression in adolescent cohorts require in-depth investigation. Possible implications for school health personnel are discussed.

The World Health Organization: School Health Initiatives

The United Nations and its family of operational agencies have existed for almost five decades. For school health personnel, to understand how these agencies operate--in particular, the World Health Organization (WHO)--is worthwhile. To understand how WHO influenced the practice of health education for school-aged youth, some critical events that have occurred during the past five decades are reviewed and several current and future activities are identified and described.

Taiwan, R.O.C.: Perspectives in School Health

Continuous economic development and evolving social systems have created unique challenges for school health personnel in Taiwan. Due in part to economic growth and an improving health care system, average life expectancy has increased markedly for males and females since 1950. Traditional leading causes of death such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gastroenteritis have been replaced by accidents, neoplasms, and cardiovascular diseases. Schoolchildren suffer from various disorders that include hepatitis B, dental caries, and health problems related to scholastic pressure such as myopia, anxiety, and depression. However, new problems such as violence, substance use, and teen-age pregnancy may develop in the future. In response to the challenge, an extensive school health program has emerged that emphasizes school health instruction, school health services, and a healthful school environment. Increased attention has focused on teacher preparation in health education, and a cooperative approach to school health promotion emphasizes school, community, and interagency cooperation. Prompted by the establishment in 1980 of the Graduate Institute of Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, school-based research initiatives have increased dramatically. Eighteen recommendations for further improvement are offered.

Dental pit and fissure sealants: implications for school health personnel.

While tooth decay among schoolchildren has declined in recent years, 95% of all schoolchildren still experience tooth decay. School-based fluoride rinse programs have made a significant contribution to the decrease in tooth decay. Pit and fissure sealants, one other preventive dentistry measure, also fight tooth decay. A pit and fissure sealant placed on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars acts as a barrier and protects caries-prone areas of the teeth. For sealants to be effective, it is important that school health educators, nurses, and administrators have the dental health knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about school-based dental sealant programs. Examples of successful programs are discussed.

Promoting child health in a smoke-free school: suggestions for school health personnel.

Health effects of involuntary smoking on school-age children are outlined and suggestions are offered for schools to become smoke-free environments for students, faculty, and staff. Suggestions are offered for developing and implementing strategies for smoke-free schools. A data base exists to support health reasons for eliminating smoking in schools, but it is necessary to build on this information to convince school personnel that smoking in schools offers no positive returns and should be eliminated. School health personnel are encouraged to lead the campaign.

Courtship violence.

Historically, the courtship relationship is thought to be one of peace and tranquility. However, recent research has demonstrated that many dating relationships include violence as a means to resolve conflicts. While differences have been found in the prevalence of violence between high school and college students, both groups report similar locations, causes, and consequences for the behavior. Peers are cited most often as confidants for students who have experienced the violence. Unfortunately, almost 25% of those who experience violence report it to no one. This paper also describes means school health personnel can use to discuss courtship violence with students. By demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to the problem, school health personnel may be able to counter use of violence in dating relationships.

The school counselor and holistic health.

Today, students confront many issues that affect their physical, intellectual, psychological, and social well-being. To serve students in a holistic wellness-oriented manner, a collaborative effort of school health personnel is useful. School counselors contribute to the health of students and faculty by helping them deal with issues that may interfere with optimal learning, using both preventive and curative interventions. Counselors also work collaboratively to solve health-related problems and concerns of students and serve as lifestyle management role models.

Negative health messages in schools.

School health personnel recognize the importance of sending positive messages to students, faculty, staff, and the community about adopting and maintaining appropriate health lifestyle behaviors. Yet, schools often send conflicting messages. Some messages have historical precedence in schools that are difficult to ameliorate or eliminate. Nonetheless, school health personnel should identify the conflicting messages and take steps to provide support for positive health behaviors. This commentary highlights three common practices that do not support positive health behaviors: vending machines that dispense non-nutritious snacks; smoking and chewing/dipping areas for students and faculty; and fund raising activities that sell popular foods of low nutrient quality.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome in children.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dsyfunction is described and a historical perspective of the disorder is presented. A review of research related to symptoms, incidence, correlates, and causes of TMJ dysfunction in children is presented. Factors regarding identification are discussed, and treatment options are outlined. The purpose of this article is to increase the awareness of school health personnel about a condition which traditionally has been considered an adult disorder.

Enriching professional preparation in school health through international study.

This article describes how to develop, market, implement, and evaluate an international health education travel study course. The experiences described reflect an international travel study tour of England and Scotland conducted by the authors with 25 undergraduate and graduate students. The trip enhanced both the appreciation and professional knowledge of the students of a variety of perspectives in the health area. International study provides unique opportunities for student development and contributes significantly to the quality of professional preparation of school health personnel. These experiences complement traditional professional preparation programs and can result in improved health instruction and health services in schools.

Health Problems of Migrant Children

This investigation examined the incidence and types of health-related problems of migrant children as identified by school health medical personnel. Results indicated 615 of 1,000 (61.5%) children in the sample has health-related problems. The incidence rates were physical (22%), visual (10.8%), dental (10.4%), auditory (7.5%), immunization (5.5%), and nutritional problems (5.5%). Implications of the findings for school health personnel are discussed.

Occupational stress in special education: a challenge for school health professionals.

Results of this study support the hypothesis that the majority of special educators, their support personnel, and general education administrators do not experience more job dissatisfaction than comparable occupational groups. However, they do report lower levels of subjective well-being when compared with normal populations. Furthermore, 18% of the educators in the study perceived themselves as failing to cope with their job, experienced more frequent symptoms of poor physical health, and reported significantly poorer subjective well-being. Health promotion programs for public school personnel should initiate prevention-oriented health education programs for all employees. For those identified as more vulnerable to stress-related mental and physical health problems, therapeutic approaches may be necessary. However, self-help and mutual support groups may offer both groups a social support system to help meet human needs in addition to offering the potential for reducing perceived occupational stress. School health personnel may be in the best position to influence policies, procedures, and practices in schools that would support the work-related needs of all employees.

Sex chromosome variations in school-age children.

Current evidence suggests that some school-age children are born with a sex chromosome variation. Large chromosome surveys of newborns indicate that 0.5% to 0.6% have chromosome errors, with sex chromosome variations accounting for 35% of them. The four most frequently occurring sex chromosome variations are Turner Syndrome (45,X), Klinefelter Syndrome (47,XXY), Polysomy X or Triple X (47,XXX), and Polysomy Y or XYY (47,XYY). Though many individuals with sex chromosome variations can live functionally normal lives, others may experience developmental, physical, psychological, behavioral, and learning impairments. New information has dispelled myths and biases previously associated with these disorders. By becoming knowledgeable about sex chromosome variations and their effects upon children, school health personnel can assist affected children, their families, and teachers.

How much stimulant medication is appropriate for hyperactive school children?

This research tested the hypothesis that a relatively modest dose of stimulant medication would produce optimal effects on cognitive and impulse control performance when compared to three other dosage levels in hyperactive school children. The efficacy of the medication was measured using a school-like visual search and matching task tapping concentration and impulse control that previously has been shown to be sensitive to stimulant drug effects. Task performance was found to be optimal at the predicted dose level, supporting the original hypothesis. The importance of school health personnel involvement in the adjusting of dosage levels of stimulant medication was stressed. A role for school health personnel in facilitating communication between physicians and teachers was suggested.

Teacher stress and burnout: implications for school health personnel.

Recent literature indicates teachers experience considerable stress in the workplace, and that such stress is associated with an increased frequency of physical illnesses and somatic complaints. This study was conducted to identify the relationship between reported levels of stress and somatic complaints and selected illnesses. The Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Teacher Somatic Complaints and Illness Inventory were distributed to 428 teachers in public schools in Southern Illinois. The MBI yields data allowing classification of teachers into two groups according to degrees of work related stress. A discriminant analysis was performed to examine the ability to discriminate between these groups based on their reported patterns of somatic complaints and illnesses. More than 11% of those responding to the study were classified as burned out according to conservative criteria for classification. The conclusion that burnout represents a health risk to teachers in this study has implications for school health personnel. Since school health personnel have experience in educating people about physiological and psychological factors that threaten health, and have experience in motivating individuals to take positive action regarding their health, they can provide teachers with information and skills to cope with occupational stress.

Teaching about testicular cancer and testicular self-examination.

Testicular cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in young men. Because some 5,300 new cases of this disorder may be diagnosed annually, with an accompanying 950 deaths from complications, it is important that young males become informed about this potentially dangerous condition. In an effort to meet the educational needs of school health personnel and secondary school pupils, the authors of this paper review the pathology and epidemiology of testicular cancer, the technique of testicular self-examination, and some suggestions for teaching about this subject.

Southeast Asian refugees and school health personnel.

This paper describes methodological and demographic limitations of attempts to generalize how traditional Southeast Asian cultural beliefs may affect attitudes of refugee children to the health services and style of education in American schools. It presents brief overviews of the diverse cultural influences upon Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and then discusses some of the psychological consequents of cultural change observed with uprooted children. Finally, it describes the role of school health personnel as a cultural bridge carrying out three functions: (1) Direct Services; (2) Indirect Services; and (3) Research.

The physician's role in sports medicine: Serving the athlete, school, and team

Increased interest in and opportunities for participation in recreation and sports have brought sports medicine into physicians' offices as another phase of health care. At one time considered to be limited to treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, sports medicine today includes many other medical aspects of sports. A preparticipation health appraisal is mandatory before entry into strenuous activity programs. Annual physical appraisals are not necessary, however, when continuing health supervision and periodic reviews of illness and injury are used to reveal needs for prompt medical attention. Cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal capabilities must be included in the health examinations of athletes. School health personnel are important components of a scholastic sports medicine program because of their availability, their interest in all athletes, and the usefulness of their cumulative health records. Many physicians are sufficiently interested and qualified in sports medicine to serve as team physicians and be advisors on the health aspects of school or community youth sports programs.

A national study of fluoride mouthrinse adoption: implications for school health personnel.

The ongoing adoption of school-based fluoride mouthrinse programs in the U.S. has provided the opportunity to study the issues surrounding the adoption and implementation of a health technology by public schools. Findings from a National Study on the Diffusion of Preventive Health Measures to Schools have been selected for analysis with regard to the role of school health personnel in the adoption and delivery of the service. A more visible role for school health personnel as on-site health experts is discussed, as well as the potential ways for increasing their involvement through facilitating initial program adoption, relaying accurate and up-to-date implementation information to decision-makers, developing a constituency for long-term program support and ensuring program accuracy through monitoring and continuing education.

The need for dental health screening and referral programs.

School-based dental health screening and referral programs can have a tremendous impact on a community. They provide examinations to children, some of whom have never seen a dentist, and refer those in need of treatment. When coordinated with other dental health activities, these programs can also raise the overall consciousness about oral health and need for health care in children and parents alike. By their concern for dental health and encouragement to the children to participate in the screening programs and follow through on referrals, school officials can serve as role models to the children and further reinforce the importance of dental health. By conducting the screenings on a local level, the problem is seen as a community one, and is more likely to be meaningfully addressed. School officials, health personnel and teachers are instrumental in initiating and conducting these programs and are thus responsible for the benefits the children derive from the screenings.