ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Superintendents' perceptions regarding the effect of health insurance status on academics, the role schools should play in the process of obtaining health insurance, and the benefits/barriers to assisting students in enrolling in health insurance were surveyed. Superintendents' basic knowledge of health insurance, the link between health and learning, and specific school system practices for assisting students were also examined. METHODS: A 4-page questionnaire was sent to a national random sample of public school superintendents using a 4-wave postal mailing. RESULTS: Only 19% of school districts assessed the health insurance status of students. School districts' assistance in helping enroll students in health insurance was assessed using Stages of Change theory; 36% of superintendents' school districts were in the action or maintenance stages. The schools most often made health insurance materials available to parents (53%). The perceived benefits identified by more than 80% of superintendents were to keep students healthier, reduce the number of students with untreated health problems, reduce school absenteeism, and improvement of students' attention/concentration during school. The 2 most common perceived barriers identified by at least 50% of superintendents were not having enough staff or financial resources. CONCLUSIONS: Most superintendents believed schools should play a role in helping students obtain health insurance, but the specific role was unclear. Three fourths of superintendents indicated overwhelmingly positive beliefs regarding the effects of health insurance status on students' health and academic outcomes. School personnel and public policy makers can use the results to support collaboration in getting students enrolled in health insurance.
Subject(s)
Insurance, Health/organization & administration , Medically Uninsured , Perception , School Health Services/organization & administration , Schools , Students/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Care Surveys , Health Services Accessibility , Health Services Needs and Demand , Health Status Disparities , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Public Health , Stress, Psychological , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: From January through June 2009, 6.1 million children were uninsured in the United States. On average, students with health insurance are healthier and as a result are more likely to be academically successful. Some schools help students obtain health insurance with the help of school nurses. METHODS: This study assessed public school nurses' knowledge and beliefs of the impact of health insurance on students' health and academic success. The study also determined whether public school nurses or their schools were involved in helping students obtain public health insurance, and if so, how they did so. Additionally, the study assessed the public school nurses' perceived benefits of and barriers to helping students obtain public health insurance. A paper-and-pencil survey was sent to a national random sample of 750 public school nurses. The response rate was 56%. RESULTS: Nearly 60% of respondents had helped students enroll in public health insurance. The majority perceived that helping students obtain public health insurance would reduce school absenteeism (90%), improve attention during school (84%), reduce the number of students held back (80%), reduce school dropouts (72%), and increase academic test scores (69%). Although the majority (53%) of nurses thought schools should assist students' parents with filling out public health insurance enrollment forms, some expressed reservations about the process. CONCLUSION: School nurses indicated health insurance is important for the health and academic success of students. These beliefs are congruent with state Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) directors' perceptions, yet few schools have taken on the role of facilitating student enrollment in public health insurance programs.
