301912
Barriers to Chronic Disease Reporting and Verification in Chicago Public Schools
Purpose: A central aim of the Improving Chronic Disease Verification and Medication Access in Chicago Public Schools study was to determine the barriers that parents face in reporting their children’s chronic conditions to CPS schools.
Significance: Understanding why chronic conditions among CPS students are under reported can lead to improvements in the reporting and verification process, increased communication, and more parental education and resources.
Methodology: Focus groups with CPS parents and key informant interviews with CPS parents and CPS school nurses were conducted in order to understand perceived chronic disease reporting and verification barriers and to develop a survey tool. A questionnaire assessing the chronic disease reporting and verification process was distributed to over 200 CPS parents. Qualitative and quantitative results were analyzed.
Findings: The results of the focus groups, key informant interviews, and surveys identified three main barriers to chronic disease reporting and verification: 1) unsatisfactory communication from schools; 2) lack of procedural knowledge by CPS parents; and 3) limited school nurse resources.
Conclusion: It is necessary for the CPS to help bridge the gaps in knowledge and communication between individual schools and parents of children with chronic conditions. Through increased communication, education, and resources, CPS can more accurately track the chronic conditions impacting its student population.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationChronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Describe the process by which chronic conditions are reported and verified in CPS.
Explain the main barriers CPS parents encounter when attempting to report their children’s conditions to schools.
Discuss how increased parental education can lead to improved and more accurate tracking of chronic conditions among CPS students.
Keyword(s): School-Based Health, Chronic Disease Management and Care
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a public health research manager who works closely with Chicago Public Schools on chronic disease policy implementation and management, the focus of this poster presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.