Title
The Relationship Between School‐Based Health Centers, Rates of Early Dismissal From School, and Loss of Seat Time
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-6-2010
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study sought to understand the relationship between school‐based health centers (SBHCs) and academic outcomes such as early dismissal and loss of seat time (the time students are available in school to learn or to access support services).
METHODS: A quasi‐experimental research design was used to compare rates of early dismissal and loss of seat time between students who received SBHC and traditional school nursing services and students who received only traditional school nursing services. This study was a secondary data analysis of 764 “walk‐in” visits during a 3‐week period in 2 urban high schools in western New York state. Both schools provided school nursing services, and 1 of the 2 offered the option to enroll in an SBHC.
RESULTS: SBHCs significantly reduced the number of early dismissals from school (p = .013) in a comparison with students who received school nursing services alone. Students not enrolled in an SBHC lost 3 times as much seat time as students enrolled in an SBHC. Race, gender, age, poverty status, and presence of a preexisting illness did not influence these findings.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SBHCs have a direct impact on educational outcomes such as attendance. Recommendations for further research include replication of this study to increase confidence in its findings and using early dismissal and loss of seat time as indicators of attendance to measure other health outcomes related to SBHCs and school nursing.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00516.x
Publication Information
Van Cura, Maureen (2010). "The Relationship Between School‐Based Health Centers, Rates of Early Dismissal From School, and Loss of Seat Time." Journal of School Health 80.8, 371-377.
Please note that the Publication Information provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.