Social Determinants of School Health and Attendance- An Educational Program for School Nurses
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Ibadah Burhani
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Nursing
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Ibtihal Al Makhzoomy
Abstract:
Title: Social Determinants of School Health and Attendance- An Educational Program for School Nurses
Background: School nurses play a crucial role in fostering students' health and academic success by engaging with students, parents, and school staff. Current nursing research has been exploring the social determinants of health and their impact on school populations.
Purpose/Aim: This poster aims to demonstrate an educational program designed for school nurses, focusing on identifying the social determinants of health within school populations. It explores strategies for addressing these determinants and their impact on reducing absenteeism while enhancing overall well-being.
PICOT: In school-aged children, can school nurse-led educational programs play a role in reducing absenteeism and enhancing overall well-being?
Methods: CINAHL, PubMed, EBSCO, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023. The search terms included 'school nurse,' 'school nursing,' 'school health,' 'children/student,' 'attendance/absenteeism,' 'promotion or intervention,' 'student academic performance,' 'social determinants of health,' and 'well-being.' Inclusion criteria focused on US-based, English-written articles on school health, while non-US studies were excluded due to differing educational and healthcare contexts.
Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed articles exhibited diverse types, with Level 6 research articles comprising 36% (n=8), followed by Level 3 data at 27% (n=6), and Level 1 data at 10% (n=2). The remaining 27% (n=6 ) encompassed various study designs, including randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional, and cohort studies, all conducted in the United States. In 14 studies, school nurse interventions were associated with decreased absenteeism and improved health.
Conclusions: These studies showed that school nurse interventions led to decreased absenteeism and improved health in students. It provides the groundwork for educating school nurses about addressing social determinants of health in their professional development.
Keywords: school nursing, school health, attendance/absenteeism, student academic performance, social determinants of health, and well-being