Differences Exist in Utilization of School Based Health Centers by School Semester and by Proportion of Low‐Income Students

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21354110
AutoresJenna Van Draanen (0000-0003-0486-6525, Department of Health Systems and Population Health University of Washington Seattle Washington USA, autor de correspondencia), Taylor C Ryan (0000-0001-7484-4749, Department of Health Systems and Population Health University of Washington Seattle Washington USA), Luciano Garofalo (0000-0003-3211-9279, Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing University of Washington School of Nursing Seattle Washington USA), Brenda Goh (0009-0001-6079-4629, Department of Health Systems and Population Health University of Washington Seattle Washington USA), Sara Rigel (0009-0004-8634-293X, Public Health Seattle & King County Seattle Washington USA), Samantha T Yeun (Public Health Seattle & King County Seattle Washington USA), Samantha Yeun (Public Health – Seattle & King County), Erin MacDougall (Public Health Seattle & King County Seattle Washington USA), Michael Nash (0000-0002-0619-2440, University of Washington), Michael G Nash (0000-0003-1950-5837, University of Washington)
Año2025
Volumen95
Número9
Páginas723-730
Fecha de publicación2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of School Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-4391 • E-ISSN: 1746-1561
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/josh.70045
PMID40611509
OpenAlexW4412041611
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas22

BACKGROUND: School based health centers (SBHCs) are essential for providing health care to students. Literature demonstrates student characteristics such as race and income are associated with SBHC utilization; however, little data exists on temporal trends in utilization. This gap in knowledge is crucial for informing policies and resource allocation. METHODS: This study examined utilization across 27 SBHCs at elementary, middle, and high schools in King County, Seattle from 2017 to 2021. Negative binomial models with random intercepts were constructed to evaluate semester-level variation in utilization, accounting for school-level differences in race, income, and attendance. Interaction models were constructed to test for effect modification of utilization by race, income, and attendance. RESULTS: Findings indicate that higher rates of utilization occurred in the fall. There was a decrease in utilization during the study, potentially due to the pandemic. Lower school-level income was positively and significantly associated with higher utilization and none of the interaction models were significant. IMPLICATIONS: Our study holds important implications for planning and policy recommendations surrounding SBHC care delivery, such as the potential need for more staffing to meet the higher demand in the fall. CONCLUSION: SBHC utilization varies by semester and schools serving low-income communities may experience higher rates of utilization, requiring increased staffing needs.

Attendance · Business · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Health care · Low income · Race (biology) · Resource allocation · Sociology · Staffing · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child and Adolescent Health · Demography · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education