title: The Postcard Initiative: Personal Communication From Students Can Increase Timely Compliance With Health Requirements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunizations and physical exams ensure the health and safety of school children. Failure to comply with state regulations can lead to exclusion from school activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students in fifth and eighth grades personalized postcards that contained health requirements for entry into sixth (junior high) and ninth (high school). The postcards were mailed three times over the school year. The junior high had a decline in first-day exclusions that did not reach significance. The high school decreased first-day exclusions from 6.4% to 1.6%. Both schools had significantly more physicals turned in before August 1 when compared with the previous year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Communicating health requirements by personalized postcards provides information in a manner that is better understood by parents/guardians.
authors.affiliation: Lead Nurse, District 87, Bloomington, IL.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: School Nurse, Bloomington, IL.
authors.forename: Kerry E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Normal, IL.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pohl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing; D013334:Students
keywords: first-day exclusion; immunizations; school engagement