Rutja Phuphaibul, Chuanrudee Kongsaktrakul and Chatsiri Mekwiwatanawong
Mahidol University, Thailand
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Primary Health Care
Diverse school health services have caused inequality among Thai school children. Presently, school nurse employments are rare in Thailand. This study examined the roles and responsibility of school health services among nurses and nonnurseâ??s personnel. Qualitative study using focus group interview methodology was used in the study. The subjects were the school health providers including: 5 school-nurse teachers (RN), 3 teachers (responsible for school health) and 4 community health and hospital nurses (responsible for school health program). The interview was tape recorded and later transcribed, then data was analyzed by content analysis. The findings suggest that there were limited roles of teachers (non-nurses) who were responsible for school health program. While the school nurses (RN) demonstrated more effective school health services, emphasized on health promotion, first aids and CPR as needed food and environmental health, collaboration and grants application to related agencies and assisted to the student's support system. Most of the subjects suggested that there should be a school nurse in every big size school (eg.1,500 students or more). Perceived obstacles to school health program by school nurse included the heavy workload, inadequate support from school administrators, limited roles of studentsâ?? parents and no school law related universal health care service for school children. It is recommended to improve the equity and quality of health care service in schools. Placement of school nurses in schools is important for the improvement of school health delivery system.
Rutja Phuphaibul is a Nursing Professor at Mahidol University, Thailand. She is currently the Chair of PhD in Nursing (International Program) at Mahidol University. In 2015, she has received the National Innovation Award from The National Research Council of Thailand from the Life Skill and Health Skill Development Program for school children. Presently, her VDO game for prevention of sexual risk behaviors have been widely used in adolescents and school children.
E-mail: ruja.phu@mahidol.ac.th
