Increasing Screening Follow-Up for Vulnerable Children: A Partnership with School Nurses

Eunice Rodriguez, Ashini Srivastava and Melinda Landau
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Eunice Rodriguez: Department of Pediatrics; Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Ashini Srivastava: Department of Pediatrics; Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Melinda Landau: Health and Family Support Department, San Jose Unified School District, San Jose, CA 95126, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: Approximately 20% of school-age children have a vision problem. Screening is an effective way to detect visual impairments, although only if adequate follow-up is available. Here, we evaluate the impact of hiring full-time nurses in four underserved schools on the likelihood of increasing follow-up for treatment after vision screening. First, we compared descriptive screening follow-up data from the intervention schools with that of five matched schools with part-time nurses in San Jose, California, from 2008 to 2012. The intervention schools had around 2800 low-income, minority children each year, and the five comparison schools had around 3445. Secondly, we conducted a qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses from 129 teachers in the nine participating schools. In the final year, 96% of the students screened and referred for possible vision problems in schools with full-time nurses were followed up and examined by a health care provider. Yet, only 67% of students screened in comparison schools were examined. Teachers in schools with full-time nurses reported that follow-up of vision problems and getting glasses for students was the most beneficial activity performed by the nurses. School nurses can effectively increase medical care coordination and follow-up of vision screening in low-income communities.

Keywords: school health; vision screening; school nurses; screening follow-up; school-based health clinic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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