ABSTRACT
Parents, as consumers of health care for their children, have the opportunity to incorporate available school health services as part of their child's total health care. This study investigated whether parental expectations of school health services supported the role of health services in the school as part of a total health care delivery system. It also sought to establish differences in the level of parental expectations of school health services as they relate to family size, parental structure in the home, method of family medical payment and current mode of health care management. A three-part questionnaire was developed to elicit data about parental expectations of school health, family characteristics and current choice of health care. Data analysis showed that parents do expect and accept school health services to be a part of their child's total health care management. No significant relationship was found between parental expectations and family demographic factors or if the child's current health management was maintenance-oriented or crisis-oriented. The study suggests that opportunities for parental input into school health programming should be provided. Positive perceptions of school health services may be incorporated into program advocacy in the event of political and financial threats.
