title: Barriers to providing school-based health care: international case comparisons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article reports on an international collaborative study which compared school-based health care in the United States of America, Canada and Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tri-nation school-based health care was compared and contrasted through the utilisation of a series of interpretive case studies. Grounded theory approaches informed the data analysis and reporting processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unlike the US, Canadian and Australian school students rarely have access to school-based health care on site. All three nations face structural, cultural and societal barriers, often related to limited resources which limit the effectiveness of school-based health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The benefits of school-based health care and providing comprehensive services through schools can include healthier children, better learning, healthier parents, and healthier communities. Unfortunately, based on our research, comprehensive school health services have not been adequately implemented in the US, Canada or Australia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the findings of this study, increased comprehensive school-based health services are urgently needed in the US, Canada and Australia.
authors.affiliation: Stevenson University, Stevenson, MD 21153, USA. dseigart@stevenson.edu
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seigart
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dietsch
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parent
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States