In Their Own Words: Resources Needed by School Nurses to Facilitate Student Immunization Compliance

BACKGROUND

All 50 states have school-entry immunization requirements, and many also allow exemptions based on medical and non-medical reasons. School nurses are responsible for managing student immunization compliance based on state policies, but lack standardized resources and guidance.

METHODS

Pennsylvania school nurses (N = 21) participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their strategies for communication and management of student immunization information, along with resources needed for practice improvement. Data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

RESULTS

Nurses reported similarities in timelines used for communication of immunization requirements, but differences in mechanisms used to secure and manage immunization records. Nurses reported a need for clarity regarding exclusions and exemption policy implementation and requested standardized resources and guidance for navigating immunization compliance.

CONCLUSIONS

A need exists for standardized processes that support immunization compliance. Furthermore, nurses highlighted a need for additional training and enhanced networks to develop creative strategies for promoting immunization uptake among families.

Elementary school personnel's perceptions on childhood obesity: pervasiveness and facilitating factors

BACKGROUND

Researchers in numerous disciplines have investigated the effects of the school environment on childhood obesity (CHO), one of the greatest current health concerns in the United States. There is a gap in current empirical evidence, however, on school personnel's perspectives of this issue. This study examined school personnel's perceptions of obesity as a problem among school-aged children and their views on factors contributing to obesity.

METHODS

Thirty-one semistructured interviews were conducted with elementary school personnel (teachers, administrators, and support staff) from 5 rural schools with a predominantly Hispanic (58.18%) and Black (30.24%) student population. The constant comparison method was used to identify emergent themes.

RESULTS

All but one participant considered obesity to be a problem among elementary children. Factors facilitating obesity most frequently cited by school personnel were home environment, poor nutrition, child control of dietary choices, child inactivity, and entertainment electronics.

CONCLUSIONS

Child control of dietary choices in both home and school environments was identified as a major contributor to obesity. Further exploration of this control is warranted to understand the complexity of this dynamic and its potential link to CHO.