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Armstrong-Carter E, Osborn S, Smith O, Siskowski C, Olson E. "I Missed School to Take Care of Someone Else": Middle and High School Students' Caregiving Responsibilities as a Reason for Absenteeism. J Sch Health 2024. [PMID: 38494159 DOI: 10.1111/josh.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Middle and high school students who are involved in caregiving for aging, chronically ill, and/or disabled family members report more learning challenges compared to their non-caregiving peers. However, little is known about how many students miss school to take care of someone else, and which students are most likely to have this experience. Such knowledge could reveal an important, largely unrecognized reason for school absences and educational disparities. METHODS Our research-practice partnership surveyed middle-and-high schoolers across Rhode Island public schools in 2022. RESULTS Among 55,746 students (45% White non-Latinx; 21% Latinx; 45% girls), 13.80% reported they had missed school to take care of someone else, with up to 35% in some districts. Students who missed school for caregiving were disproportionately girls, non-binary, transgender, or preferred not to report gender, older youth, and from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, and from urban districts. CONCLUSIONS Children's experiences caregiving for others may be an important and overlooked contributor to absenteeism and achievement gaps, especially in urban areas. We suggest school policies to better serve these students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Osborn
- State Strategy and Student Opportunity, Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Olivia Smith
- State Strategy and Student Opportunity, Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Connie Siskowski
- The American Association of Caregiving Youth, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth Olson
- Department of Geography and Department of Global Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Jay MA, Sanders-Ellis D, Blackburn R, Deighton J, Gilbert R. Umbrella systematic review finds limited evidence that school absence explains the association between chronic health conditions and lower academic attainment. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1122769. [PMID: 37361156 PMCID: PMC10288991 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1122769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Absence from school is more frequent for children with chronic health conditions (CHCs) than their peers and may be one reason why average academic attainment scores are lower among children with CHCs. Methods We determined whether school absence explains the association between CHCs and academic attainment through a systematic review of systematic reviews of comparative studies involving children with or without CHCs and academic attainment. We extracted results from any studies that tested whether school absence mediated the association between CHCs and academic attainment. Results We identified 27 systematic reviews which included 441 unique studies of 7, 549, 267 children from 47 jurisdictions. Reviews either covered CHCs generally or were condition-specific (e.g., chronic pain, depression, or asthma). Whereas reviews found an association between a range of CHCs (CHCs generally, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia A, end-stage renal disease (pre-transplant), end-stage kidney disease (pre-transplant), spina bifida, congenital heart disease, orofacial clefts, mental disorders, depression, and chronic pain) and academic attainment, and though it was widely hypothesized that absence was a mediator in these associations, only 7 of 441 studies tested this, and all findings show no evidence of absence mediation. Conclusion CHCs are associated with lower academic attainment, but we found limited evidence of whether school absence mediates this association. Policies that focus solely on reducing school absence, without adequate additional support, are unlikely to benefit children with CHCs. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=285031, identifier: CRD42021285031.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Jay
- UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Sanders-Ellis
- UCL Institute of Education, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Blackburn
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Deighton
- The Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Gilbert
- UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Lindholdt L, Svendsen K, Rothausen KW, Bech BH. Social well-being and problematic school absence among Danish adolescents: A nationwide cross-sectional study. Scand J Public Health 2023:14034948231173176. [PMID: 37246849 DOI: 10.1177/14034948231173176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
AIM Adolescents' well-being and school absence are important factors for public health. The aim of this study was to examine the association between social well-being and problematic school absence among Danish adolescents in the ninth grade, as well as to examine potential sex differences, using a large cohort of adolescents. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, information on social well-being was obtained from the yearly Danish National Well-being Questionnaire mandatory in compulsory school. Data on school absence was obtained from the Ministry of Children and Education. The study population comprised 203,570 adolescents in the school years 2014/2015 to 2019/2020. The association between social well-being and problematic school-absence was analysed using logistic regression. A stratified analysis was made to investigate potential sex differences. RESULTS A total of 17,555 (9.16%) adolescents had problematic school absence, defined as >10% illegal absence and/or sickness absence in the ninth grade. Adolescents with low social well-being had higher odds for having problematic school absence compared with adolescents with high social well-being, adjusted odds ratio=2.22 (95% confidence interval 2.10-2.34). When stratifying for sex, the association was strongest for girls. The results remained after adjustment for parents' educational level and family structure. CONCLUSIONS
Associations between adolescents' social well-being and problematic school absence were found, where girls had the strongest association. These findings might provide knowledge about social well-being as an important factor for problematic school absence, while underlining the importance of early focus and prevention, which is of importance for both the adolescents and society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katrine Svendsen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Bodil H Bech
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess dental caries, periodontal status, malocclusion and absenteeism from school among 12-year-olds in Bhopal district, Central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-stage random sample of 1238 school children. Decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT), Significant caries index (SiC), community periodontal index (CPI) and dental aesthetic index (DAI) were used to record dental caries, periodontal status and malocclusion. Information on absence from school in the previous year due to pain/discomfort in the teeth or mouth was collected via interviews. Generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) examined the direct and indirect predictors of absence from school. RESULTS A total of 39.1%, 17.3% and 23.9% of children had dental caries, calculus and gingival bleeding respectively. Mean DMFT and SiC scores were 1.82± 1.36 and 3.15 ± 1.47. 5,127 school hours were missed due to oral health problems per 1,000 children. None of the studied variables predicted absence from school. Utilization of dental care was associated directly with gender and malocclusion (p⟨ 0.001). Periodontal status was associated with male gender, nuclear families, tobacco consumption, and malocclusion (p⟨ 0.001). Higher DMFT was associated with male gender, malocclusion and experience of pain/discomfort (p⟨ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Poor oral health and a high prevalence of untreated dental caries were noted. Despite a considerable number of missed school hours reported due to dental conditions, none of the studied variables predicted absence from school.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Singh
- Department of Dentistry, Regional Training Centre for Oral Health Promotion, Dental Public Health & Oral Health Data Bank, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - B M Purohit
- Division of Public Health Dentistry, Centre for Dental Education and Research, WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health Promotion, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - A Purohit
- Department of Dentistry, Regional Training Centre for Oral Health Promotion, Dental Public Health & Oral Health Data Bank, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - S Taneja
- Department of Dentistry, Regional Training Centre for Oral Health Promotion, Dental Public Health & Oral Health Data Bank, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
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Hviid A, Thorsen NM, Thomsen LN, Møller FT, Wiwe A, Frisch M, Valentiner-Branth P, Rytter D, Mølbak K. Human papillomavirus vaccination and all-cause morbidity in adolescent girls: a cohort study of absence from school due to illness. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 50:518-526. [PMID: 33547468 PMCID: PMC8128452 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A growing body of evidence supports the safety of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. However, concerns about autonomic dysfunction syndromes and non-specific symptoms continue to linger. These conditions are not easily captured by traditional diagnostic classification schemes and call for innovative approaches to the study of vaccine safety which take more general measures of all-cause morbidity into account. Methods Taking advantage of the unique Danish registers, including regional registration of absence from school, we conducted a cohort study of 14 068 adolescent Danish girls attending 5th through 9th grade in public schools in the municipality of Copenhagen during 1 August 2013–23 January 2018. We obtained time-varying HPV vaccination status and demographic information from nationwide registers. Using Poisson regression with random effects, we estimated rate ratios (RRs) of absence due to illness, comparing HPV-vaccinated girls with unvaccinated girls with adjustment for grade, season, calendar period, demographic factors and random effects at the individual, class and school levels. Results Our study included 6 206 188 school days with 213 221 days of absence from school due to illness (absence rate, 3.4%). Comparing absence rates due to illness in HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated girls yielded an adjusted RR of 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98–1.03). Conclusions Our study provides an important and novel contribution to HPV vaccine safety. Using absence from school records, we were able to address important safety concerns without relying on medical diagnoses. We conclude that HPV vaccination does not increase the risk of morbidity in any manner that manifests as absence from school due to illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Hviid
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicklas M Thorsen
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise N Thomsen
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Frederik T Møller
- Division of Infectious Diseases Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Wiwe
- Ledelsesinformation, data og analyser, Børne- og Ungdomsforvaltningen, City of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Frisch
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Center for Sexology Research, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Dorte Rytter
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kåre Mølbak
- Division of Infectious Diseases Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Watanabe M, Noma H, Kurai J, Kato K, Sano H. Association with Ambient Air Pollutants and School Absence Due to Sickness in Schoolchildren: A Case-Crossover Study in a Provincial Town of Japan. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:6631. [PMID: 34203021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The effect of ambient air pollutants and Asian dust (AD) on absence from school due to sickness has not been well researched. By conducting a case-crossover study, this study investigated the influence of ambient air pollutants and desert sand dust particles from East Asia on absence from school due to sickness. From November 2016 to July 2018, the daily cases of absence due to sickness were recorded in five elementary schools in Matsue, Japan. During the study period, a total of 16,915 absence cases were recorded, which included 4865 fever cases and 2458 cough cases. The relative risk of overall absence in a 10-μg/m3 increment of PM2.5 and a 0.1-km-1 of desert sand dust particles from East Asia were found with 1.28 (95%CI: 1.15-1.42) and 2.15 (1.04-4.45) at lag0, respectively. The significant influence of PM2.5 persisted at lag5 and that of desert sand dust particles at lag2. NO2 had statistically significant effects at lag2, lag3, and lag4. However, there was no evidence of a positive association of Ox and SO2 with absence from school. These results suggested that PM2.5, NO2, and AD increased the risk of absence due to sickness in schoolchildren.
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Pletta KH, Kerr BR, Eickhoff JC, Allen GS, Jain SR, Moreno MA. Pediatric Asthma Action Plans: National Cross-Sectional Online Survey of Parents' Perceptions. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2020; 3:e21863. [PMID: 33164900 PMCID: PMC7683255 DOI: 10.2196/21863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma Action Plans (AAPs) are recommended for pediatric patients to help improve asthma control. Studies have shown variable results for unscheduled doctor and emergency room visits. AAPs may have an impact on parental self-efficacy for asthma management as well as on other daily living factors that are valuable for patients and families, such as the number of missed school days and parental workdays, and on school and caregiver management. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to understand parent perceptions of AAPs. The goals of this analysis were threefold, including examining (1) the association between pediatric AAPs and parental self-efficacy, (2) parent perceptions of the helpfulness of an AAP for daily living factors, and (3) associations with the type of provider who gave the AAP (a primary care provider or an asthma specialist). METHODS A national cross-sectional online survey was completed in October 2018 by parents of children with asthma aged 0-17 years. Survey questions included the presence or absence of a pediatric AAP, the Bursch Parental Self-efficacy for Asthma scale, parental perceptions of the AAP's helpfulness with regard to daily living factors ranked on a 5-point Likert scale, and the provider type who gave the AAP. Survey responses were summarized in terms of percentages or means and standard deviations. A 2-sample t test and analysis of covariance were used to compare self-efficacy for asthma and parental-perception-of-helpfulness scores between subjects with an AAP versus subjects without an AAP. All reported P values were 2-sided. RESULTS A total of 704 parents with a child with asthma completed the survey. The parents had a mean age of 37.5 years (SD 10.9), and 82% (577/704) were women and 18% (127/704) were men. Most (564/704, 80%) parents had an AAP for their child; 65% (367/564) were written, 51% (286/564) were online, and 84% (474/564) were available at school. The Bursch Self-efficacy scale was significantly higher for parents with an AAP (mean 57.7, SD 8.6) versus no AAP (mean 55.1, SD 9.9; P<.001). Parents reported that they agreed/strongly agreed that an AAP was helpful for daily living factors, including managing asthma (446/544, 82%), decreased parental missed workdays (367/544, 68%), decreased child missed-school days (396/542, 73%), and for when a child is at school (422/541 78%), with other caregivers (434/543, 80%), doing normal activities (421/540 78%), and leading a normal life (437/540 81%). Parents agreed/strongly agreed that an AAP was helpful from all provider types: a pediatric provider (583/704, 82.8%), a family practice provider (556/704, 79%), and an asthma specialist (594/704, 84.4%). There was no significant difference (P=.53) between the type of provider who gave the AAP. CONCLUSIONS Parents who had pediatric AAPs for their children reported increased parental self-efficacy compared to those who did not have AAPs. Parents found AAPs helpful for decreasing missed time from work and school, and for asthma management when at home, school, and with other caregivers. Significant AAP helpfulness was seen regardless of the provider who gave the AAP, the parent's education, and income level. Findings support the usefulness of pediatric AAPs for families and the development of easily sharable electronic AAPs for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen H Pletta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bradley R Kerr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jens C Eickhoff
- Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Gail S Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Sanjeev R Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Megan A Moreno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Askeland KG, Bøe T, Lundervold AJ, Stormark KM, Hysing M. The Association Between Symptoms of Depression and School Absence in a Population-Based Study of Late Adolescents. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1268. [PMID: 32655449 PMCID: PMC7325985 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE School attendance is an important functional marker in adolescence, and knowledge of the correlates of school absence is important to inform preventive efforts. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the association between symptoms of depression and school absence in late adolescence, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and externalizing problems. METHODS Data stem from the youth@hordaland-survey, a population-based survey of adolescents between 16 and 19 years old attending upper secondary education in Hordaland County, Norway, in spring 2012. Administrative data on school absence was provided for 8222 adolescents. In addition to days and hours absent the past semester, a variable of total absence was calculated and divided into quartiles of absence. Symptoms of mental health problems and sleep duration was based on adolescent self-reports. RESULTS Reports of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with school absence when investigated as continuous variables. The strength of the association attenuated but remained statistically significant when controlling for sociodemographic factors and externalizing problems. When investigating the association at different levels of school absence, adolescents in the second, third and fourth quartile of school absence reported significantly higher depression scores compared to adolescents in the first quartile. The association between reports of symptoms of depression and school absence was partially mediated by sleep duration. CONCLUSION The association between reported symptoms of depression and school absence was evident even at low levels of school absence, indicating a role for universal prevention strategies. The findings suggest both depression and sleep problems as possible targets for intervention in late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin G. Askeland
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Tormod Bøe
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Astri J. Lundervold
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kjell M. Stormark
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Mari Hysing
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Kreger M, Sargent Cairoli K, Brindis CD. An Underpinning of School Inequities: Asthma Absences and Lost Revenue in California Schools. J Sch Health 2020; 90:200-211. [PMID: 31957039 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is epidemic in many locations in the United States. Asthma exacerbations pose serious health and education risks for students through school absences, school dropout, and introduction to the juvenile justice system. Accurate school district-level asthma data, currently in short supply, would enable early interventions that focus on specific geographic areas and racial and ethnic subgroups that have higher asthma prevalence. METHODS To support the development of better local level data systems, we used two California student databases, as well as state education and financial databases, to develop two models to estimate school absences and to extrapolate their economic impact in lost school revenue. RESULTS Analysis demonstrated subpopulations that are appropriate for early intervention: African American elementary school boys have 9.4 average absences per year, higher than other primary racial and ethnic groups. Students who miss ≥3 school days due to asthma account for $26 million of lost revenue. CONCLUSIONS Accurate local level asthma data can identify subpopulations of students for whom environmental and treatment programs can be employed to reduce asthma absences and other related outcomes, and to reduce currently lost school revenues. Such programs also may diminish other asthma-related school inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kreger
- Science and Health Education Partnership, Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 3533 21st Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114
| | - Katherine Sargent Cairoli
- Science and Health Education Partnership, Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 3533 21st Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114
| | - Claire D Brindis
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA, 94118
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Simoneau T, Langton CR, Kuo CL, Marrero J, Gherlone N, Cloutier MM, Hollenbach JP. A School Nurse-Led Asthma Program Reduces Absences: Evaluation of Easy Breathing for Schools. Acad Pediatr 2020; 20:73-80. [PMID: 31365880 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether school nurses can assist pediatricians in providing asthma care and reduce school absenteeism through a program called Easy Breathing for Schools (EzBfS), a 5-element school nurse-led asthma management program and the effectiveness in reducing school absenteeism. METHODS Fifteen public school nurses in an urban community implemented EzBfS during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. Program elements included assessment of asthma risk and asthma control, asthma education, medication review, and a pediatrician communication tool. School absence for any reason was the primary outcome; absentee rates for students with asthma enrolled in the program were compared to students with asthma in the entire school population using negative binomial regression. RESULTS School nurses enrolled 251/2,126 students with physician-confirmed asthma (2015-16: n = 114 and 2016-17: n = 137). Sixty eight percent of participants were Latino and 25% were Black with a mean age of 8.7 ± 2.2 years. Absentee rates were higher in children with asthma compared to children without asthma (8.3% vs 7.0% absent, respectively P < .001). Students enrolled in the program experienced a 25% decrease in absentee rate after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and school year (rate ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval, 0.67, 0.85) as compared to students with asthma not enrolled in the program. Participants also demonstrated improvement in inhaler technique score (P < .001). Ninety two percent of the nurses were satisfied with the program. CONCLUSION EzBfS, a pragmatic, nurse-led asthma management program, was successfully implemented by school nurses and significantly decreased school absences among a sample of students with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tregony Simoneau
- Department of Pediatrics (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), UCONN Health, Farmington, Conn; Connecticut Children's Medical Center (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), Hartford, Conn; The Asthma Center (T Simoneau, CR Langton, MM Cloutier, and JP Hollenbach), Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Conn
| | - Christine R Langton
- The Asthma Center (T Simoneau, CR Langton, MM Cloutier, and JP Hollenbach), Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Conn
| | - Chia-Ling Kuo
- Department of Community Medicine & Health Care (C-L Kuo), Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, UCONN Health, Farmington, Conn
| | - Jing Marrero
- Department of Pediatrics (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), UCONN Health, Farmington, Conn; Connecticut Children's Medical Center (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), Hartford, Conn
| | - Nicole Gherlone
- Frank H. Netter School of Medicine (N Gherlone), Quinnipiac University, North Haven, Conn
| | - Michelle M Cloutier
- The Asthma Center (T Simoneau, CR Langton, MM Cloutier, and JP Hollenbach), Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Conn
| | - Jessica P Hollenbach
- Department of Pediatrics (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), UCONN Health, Farmington, Conn; Connecticut Children's Medical Center (T Simoneau, J Marrero, and JP Hollenbach), Hartford, Conn; The Asthma Center (T Simoneau, CR Langton, MM Cloutier, and JP Hollenbach), Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Conn.
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Lee J, Kubik MY, Fulkerson JA. Missed Work Among Caregivers of Children With a High Body Mass Index: Child, Parent, and Household Characteristics. J Sch Nurs 2019; 37:396-403. [PMID: 31514567 DOI: 10.1177/1059840519875506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An underexamined consequence of childhood obesity is caregivers' missed work attributed to child absence from school due to a health condition. This secondary analysis (N = 123) reported the frequency of missed work among caregivers of children with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 75th percentile and examined associations with select child, parent, and household characteristics. Caregivers missed work 1.3 (SD = 1.2) times in the past year with 41% reporting 2 or more times. A child visiting a health-care provider 2 or more times in the past year and parent perception of their child's health as good/fair/poor were significantly associated with caregivers' missing work 2 or more times in a year (OR = 5.8 and OR = 3.0, respectively). A significant association between children's physical and psychosocial well-being and caregivers' missed work emphasizes the school nurse role working with children with high BMI and families to address student absenteeism and caregivers' missed work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwoo Lee
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Martha Y Kubik
- Department of Nursing, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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van den Toren SJ, van Grieken A, Mulder WC, Vanneste YT, Lugtenberg M, de Kroon MLA, Tan SS, Raat H. School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16-26 Years. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E3321. [PMID: 31505862 PMCID: PMC6765871 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the association between school absenteeism, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and happiness among young adults aged 16-26 years attending vocational education. Cross-sectional data from a survey among 676 young adults were analyzed. School absenteeism was measured by the self-reported number of sick days in the past eight weeks and hours of truancy in the past four weeks. HRQOL was measured by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey; physical and mental component summary scores were calculated. General happiness was assessed on a scale of 0-10, higher scores indicating greater happiness. Linear regression analyses were performed. The study population had a mean age of 18.5 years (SD 2.2); 26.1% were boys. Young adults with ≥5 sick days or ≥6 h of truancy reported lower mental HRQOL compared to young adults without sickness absence or truancy (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1-4 and ≥5 sick days reported lower physical HRQOL compared to young adults who had not reported to be sick (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1-5 h and ≥6 h of truancy reported higher physical HRQOL compared to young adults who were not truant (p < 0.05). No associations were observed between school absence and happiness. Lower self-reported mental HRQOL was observed among young adults with more school absenteeism due to sickness or truancy. Sickness absence was additionally associated with lower physical HRQOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne J van den Toren
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Amy van Grieken
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Wico C Mulder
- Dutch Center for Youth Health (NCJ), 3527 GV Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Marjolein Lugtenberg
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Marlou L A de Kroon
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Siok Swan Tan
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Hein Raat
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Finning K, Waite P, Harvey K, Moore D, Davis B, Ford T. Secondary school practitioners' beliefs about risk factors for school attendance problems: a qualitative study. Emot Behav Diffic 2019; 25:15-28. [PMID: 32536954 PMCID: PMC7254525 DOI: 10.1080/13632752.2019.1647684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
School staff have an important role to play in identifying and assisting pupils who require additional support to regularly attend school, but their beliefs about risk factors might influence their decisions regarding intervention. This qualitative study investigated educational practitioners' beliefs about risk factors for attendance problems. Sixteen practitioners from three secondary schools were interviewed via focus groups. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Practitioners identified risk factors related to the individual, their family, peers and school. Poor mental health was identified as a risk factor, but practitioners primarily focused on anxiety rather than other mental health problems like depression or behavioural disorders. The overall perception was that school factors were less important than individual, family and peer factors. Implications include a need for increased awareness of the role of school factors in attendance problems, focus on promoting positive peer and pupil-teacher relationships, and collaborative working between young people, families and schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Finning
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Polly Waite
- School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Kate Harvey
- School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Darren Moore
- Graduate School of Education, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Becky Davis
- School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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Abstract
Objective: Effective asthma management at school can help students with asthma stay healthy, learn better and participate fully during their school day. This study sought to understand school-based asthma care from the perspective of parents and school personnel to improve asthma care at school. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hartford, CT. School personnel from 59 schools and 322 parents/guardians were invited to participate. Four cross-sectional surveys using Likert-type scales assessed parental and school personnel satisfaction, confidence in managing asthma, policy awareness, management of asthma during physical activity, and perceived gaps surrounding school-based asthma care. Results: 263/322 (82%) eligible parents of children with asthma (mean age 8.5 ± 4.3, 56% Hispanic, 30% African American) completed surveys. Thirty six school nurses (62%), 131 teachers (8%), 14 coaches (14%), and 17 school principals (29%) participated. 90% of parents were satisfied with asthma management in school. School nurses were more aware of asthma policies than teachers (74% vs. 24%, p < 0.001). 34% of school nurses, 30% of teachers and 36% of coaches were unaware of asthma-related absences. 14% of physical education teachers/coaches reported no asthma training. Conclusion: In this convenience sample of parents and school personnel, parents reported overall satisfaction regarding the asthma care their children receive at school, yet a number of gaps pertaining to school-based asthma care were identified. Increased asthma training and enhanced communication among school personnel is needed to address these gaps. National guidelines and resources are readily available to improve asthma care at school.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica P Hollenbach
- Asthma Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, UCONN Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Tregony Simoneau
- Asthma Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, UCONN Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Michelle M Cloutier
- Asthma Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, UCONN Health, Farmington, CT, USA.,Department of Medicine, UCONN Health, Farmington, CT, USA
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15
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Granrud MD, Theander K, Anderzèn-Carlsson A, Steffenak AKM. Experiences of interprofessional collaboration in a special school programme for adolescents who struggle with school life: an explorative study. J Interprof Care 2019; 33:706-713. [PMID: 30653381 DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1565755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A growing proportion of adolescents struggle with school life and could benefit from special school programmes. School could be an arena for supporting such adolescents and, to meet these challenges, interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has been recommended for better health. The aim of the present study was to explore the experience of IPC in a special school programme offered to adolescents who struggle with school life - from the perspective of the professionals involved. Focus group interviews were carried out with four groups and fourteen participants, and the focus groups included two to five participants each. The focus group interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analyses from this study resulted in a main theme: IPC in the special school programme is unpredictable. Five categories emerged from the data, including: variations in initiative, significance of individual characteristics, informal and formal contact, lack of criteria and goals, and different obligations. The participants described IPC as differing from case to case, with a lack of criteria and goals for adolescents in the special school programme. They experienced the random nature of whoever took the initiative to collaborate, and that confidentiality and the different documentation requirements could affect IPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Dahlen Granrud
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Department of Health Studies, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, Elverum, Norway.,Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Department of Health Science, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Kersti Theander
- County Council of Värmland, Centre for Clinical Research, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Agneta Anderzèn-Carlsson
- Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Department of Health Science, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University Health Care Research Center, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anne Kjersti Myhrene Steffenak
- Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Department of Health Studies, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, Elverum, Norway
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Knight SJ, Politis J, Garnham C, Scheinberg A, Tollit MA. School Functioning in Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:302. [PMID: 30460211 PMCID: PMC6232780 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: It is well known that adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience greater school absenteeism compared to healthy adolescents. Less is known about other important aspects of school functioning including school participation, school connectedness, and academic performance in students with CFS. The aim of this study was to compare school functioning as a multifaceted construct in adolescents with CFS to healthy adolescent peers. We also explored whether illness factors were associated with school functioning in adolescents with CFS. Methods: Thirty-nine participants with CFS and 28 healthy controls (aged 13-17 years) completed a range of subjective and objective measures of school functioning, as well as measures of fatigue and emotional symptoms. Results: Adolescents with CFS demonstrated significantly higher rates of school absence, as well as poorer school-related quality of life, reduced school participation, poorer connectedness with school, and reduced academic performance. Fatigue severity and emotional symptoms were significantly associated with most aspects of school function. Conclusions: Adolescents with CFS are at increased risk for poor school functioning across a range of indicators which extend beyond school absenteeism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jenette Knight
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Politis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine Garnham
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Adam Scheinberg
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Anne Tollit
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital Education Institute, Parkville VIC Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Sullivan P, Ghushchyan VG, Navaratnam P, Friedman HS, Kavati A, Ortiz B, Lanier B. School absence and productivity outcomes associated with childhood asthma in the USA. J Asthma 2017; 55:161-168. [PMID: 28453370 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1313273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have examined the association between childhood asthma and lost productivity; however, more data are needed to understand its impact. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data in the nationally representative 2007-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). School-aged children (SAC), children (age 6-11), and adolescents (age 12-17) with asthma were compared to those without asthma to examine annual missed school days. Adult parents/caregivers of SAC with asthma were compared to those of SAC without asthma to examine missed work days. The cost of premature asthma mortality for SAC was also estimated. Negative binomial regression was used for missed school days, and a two-part model structure was used for missed work days. All analyses controlled for sociodemographics and other covariates. RESULTS There were 44,320 SAC of whom 5,890 had asthma. There were 43,496 employed adults with at least one child. SAC (6-17) with asthma missed 1.54 times the number of school days compared to SAC without asthma. Caregivers of SAC (6-17) with asthma missed 1.16 times the number of work days to care for others compared to caregivers of SAC without asthma. SAC in the USA missed an additional 7 million school days associated with asthma (3.7 million children and 3.3 million adolescent). There were 130 asthma deaths resulting in an annual cost of $211 million ($US 2015). CONCLUSIONS Childhood asthma is associated with a significant school absence and productivity loss in the USA. Better treatment and asthma management programs are needed to alleviate this burden.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vahram G Ghushchyan
- b University of Colorado, Denver CO and American University of Armenia , Yerevan , Armenia
| | | | | | - Abhisek Kavati
- d Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation , East Hanover , NJ , USA
| | - Benjamin Ortiz
- d Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation , East Hanover , NJ , USA
| | - Bob Lanier
- e University of North Texas , Fort Worth , TX , USA
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18
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Askeland KG, Haugland S, Stormark KM, Bøe T, Hysing M. Adolescent school absenteeism and service use in a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:626. [PMID: 26155938 PMCID: PMC4497412 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1978-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School absenteeism is linked to a range of health concerns, health risk behaviors and school dropout. It is therefore important to evaluate the extent to which adolescents with absenteeism are in contact with health care and other services. The aim of the current study was to investigate service use of Norwegian adolescents with moderate and high absenteeism in comparison to students with lower rates of absence. METHODS The study employs data from a population-based study from 2012 targeting all pupils in upper secondary education in Hordaland County, Norway (the youth@hordaland-survey). A total of 8988 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 were included in the present study. Information on service use was based on adolescent self-report data collected in the youth@hordaland-survey. Absence data was collected using administrative data provided by the Hordaland County Council. RESULTS High absence (defined as being absent 15% or more the past semester) was found among 10.1% of the adolescents. Compared to their peers with low absence (less than 3% absence the past semester), adolescents with high absence were more likely to be in contact with all the services studied, including mental health services (odds ratio (OR) 3.96), adolescent health clinics (OR 2.11) and their general practitioner (GP) (OR 1.94). Frequency of contact was higher among adolescents with moderate and high absence and there seems to be a gradient of service use corresponding to the level of absence. Still, 40% of the adolescents with high absence had not been in contact with any services. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with high absence had increased use of services, although a group of youth at risk seems to be without such contact. This finding suggests a potential to address school absenteeism through systematic collaboration between schools and health personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Gärtner Askeland
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, Department of Public Mental Health, Bergen, Norway.
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Siren Haugland
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Kjell Morten Stormark
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Tormod Bøe
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Mari Hysing
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
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19
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Gaihre S, Semple S, Miller J, Fielding S, Turner S. Classroom carbon dioxide concentration, school attendance, and educational attainment. J Sch Health 2014; 84:569-574. [PMID: 25117890 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We tested the hypothesis that classroom carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentration is inversely related to child school attendance and educational attainment. METHODS Concentrations of CO2 were measured over a 3-5 day period in 60 naturally ventilated classrooms of primary school children in Scotland. Concentrations of CO2 were related to the class average annual attendance and proportions attaining a national standard for reading, writing, and numeracy, adjusted for socioeconomic status and class size. RESULTS The median (interquartile range, IQR) CO2 concentration averaged over the school day was 1086 ppm (922, 1310). In the model, Time Weighted Average CO2 concentrations were inversely associated with school attendance but not academic attainments. An increase of 100 ppm CO2 was associated with a reduced annual attendance of 0.2% (0.04, 0.4) roughly equivalent to 1 half day of school per annum, assuming schools are open on 190 days per year. Indoor temperature and relative humidity were not related to attendance or academic attainment. CONCLUSIONS Inadequate classroom ventilation, as evidenced by CO2 concentration exceeding 1000 ppm, is not uncommon and may be associated with reduced school attendance. A relationship between inadequate classroom ventilation and adverse health outcomes in children may be present and this needs to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Gaihre
- Child Health, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Foresterhilll, Aberdeen AB25 2ZG, UK.
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20
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Nicholson JA, Naeeni M, Hoptroff M, Matheson JR, Roberts AJ, Taylor D, Sidibe M, Weir AJ, Damle SG, Wright RL. An investigation of the effects of a hand washing intervention on health outcomes and school absence using a randomised trial in Indian urban communities. Trop Med Int Health 2014; 19:284-292. [PMID: 24382344 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate how an intervention, which combined hand washing promotion aimed at 5-year-olds with provision of free soap, affected illnesses among the children and their families and children's school absenteeism. METHODS We monitored illnesses, including diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARIs), school absences and soap consumption for 41 weeks in 70 low-income communities in Mumbai, India (35 communities per arm). RESULTS Outcomes from 847 intervention households (containing 847 5-year-olds and 4863 subjects in total) and 833 control households (containing 833 5-year-olds and 4812 subjects) were modelled using negative binomial regression. Intervention group 5-year-olds had fewer episodes of diarrhoea (-25%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = -37%, -2%), ARIs (-15%, 95% CI = -30%, -8%), school absences due to illnesses (-27%, 95% CI = -41%, -18%) and eye infections (-46%, 95% CI = -58%, -31%). Further, there were fewer episodes of diarrhoea and ARIs in the intervention group for 'whole families' (-31%, 95% CI = -37%, -5%; and -14%, 95% CI = -23%, -6%, respectively), 6- to 15-year-olds (-30%, 95% CI = -39%, -7%; and -15%, 95% CI = -24%, -6%) and under 5 s (-32%, 95% CI = -41%, -4%; and -20%, 95% CI = -29%, -8%). CONCLUSIONS Direct-contact hand washing interventions aimed at younger school-aged children can affect the health of the whole family. These may be scalable through public-private partnerships and classroom-based campaigns. Further work is required to understand the conditions under which health benefits are transferred and the mechanisms for transference.
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Stormshak EA, Connell A, Dishion TJ. An adaptive approach to family-centered intervention in schools: linking intervention engagement to academic outcomes in middle and high school. Prev Sci 2009; 10:221-35. [PMID: 19390971 PMCID: PMC2730147 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-009-0131-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the impact of an adaptive approach to family intervention in public schools on academic outcomes from age 11 to 17. Students were randomly assigned to the three-session Family Check-Up (FCU), which is designed to motivate change in parenting practices by using an assessment-driven approach and strengths-based feedback. All services were voluntary, and approximately 25% of the families engaged in the FCU. Compared with matched controls, adolescents whose parents received the FCU maintained a satisfactory GPA into high school, and intervention engagement was associated with improved attendance. The highest-risk families were the most likely to engage in the family-centered intervention, suggesting the efficacy of integrating supportive services to families in the context of other schoolwide approaches to promote the success and achievement of vulnerable students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Stormshak
- Counseling Psychology Program, Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, 195 West 12th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401-3408, USA
| | - Arin Connell
- Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Thomas J. Dishion
- Psychology and School Psychology, Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, 195 West 12th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401-3408, USA
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