Practices and Attitudes of Missouri School Nurses Regarding Immunization Records and Select Immunizations of Graduating High School Seniors.
School nurses play a key role in maintaining a healthy student population, and one of their roles includes maintaining vaccination records. Further, they can play an important role in advocating for human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccination for students. All Missouri public high school nurses were sent an electronic survey addressing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding immunization records and HPV and meningococcal vaccination of high school seniors. Approximately 75% of nurses reported their schools did not have or they did not know if the school had a written policy regarding the release of vaccination records. Approximately 1/2 and 1/3 of nurses do not communicate with parents/students about HPV or meningococcal vaccines, respectively. Although most favorable toward meningococcal, nurses had positive attitudes toward both vaccines. Recommendations include establishment of written policies regarding vaccination record release, and future research should focus on evaluating school nurses' communication methods regarding HPV and meningococcal vaccination.
Department of Public Health and Health Education, The College at Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY, 14420, USA. drhodes@brockport.edu.
Darson L
DL
Rhodes
Cerner Corporation, North Kansas City, MO, USA.
Michele
M
Draper
Cerner Corporation, North Kansas City, MO, USA.
Kendra
K
Woolman
Department of Health and Exercise Sciences, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, USA.
Carol
C
Cox
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D012573:School Nursing; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D014611:Vaccination
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
HPV; Meningococcal; School nurses; Vaccinations