THE IMPORTANCE OF PERIODIC HEALTH STATUS EXAMINATION IN SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of various illness of preschoolers and students is an important component of school medicine. The periodic examination of the health status carried out in the school medical offices, the referral of preschoolers and students to other specialties physicians and the recommendation of recovery measures are essential for maintaining the health status of the children and young people collectivities. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to highlight how the periodic examination of the health status of preschoolers and students is carried out in medical offices in kindergartens and schools in Romania, and what are the difficulties that health professionals face in achieving it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire with preset/free answers was sent in June 2022 to the doctors from school medical offices all across the country, through the Google Forms platform, and the questions were regarding their activity in the 2021/2022 school year. Data confidentiality was strictly respected. The answers were analysed. RESULTS: 198 filled forms were received, from which 74% were from doctors working in the county seat. 58,8% of the responding doctors provide medical assistance in 3 or more schools/highschools and 32,84% of them also have 3 or more kindergartens in their work schedule. A periodic health check-up is carried out for all preschoolers in kindergarten, 1st grade students, 4th grade students, 8th grade students, 12th grade students and students in the final year of vocational school. The difficulties encountered in carrying out the medical examinations are: difficulty of children being allowed to skip classes to attend the medical examination 54,5%, lack of time due to other activities 36%, parents’/children’s refusal 24%. 5.05% of responding doctors faced no difficulties. Following the medical examinations new cases of cardiovascular, dermatological or endocrine ailments as well as new cases of hypertension, postural defects, obesity and refractive errors have been identified. The doctors participating in our study have issued referrals to the following specialities: ophthalmology 77,5%, cardiology - 53,5%, pediatrics - 52%, balneology / orthopedics - 50%, ENT - 40%, endocrinology - 32%. From the responding doctors 60,8% have issued referrals to various specialties, but only 11% have a Convention with the Health Insurance House. The equipment of the medical offices in the schools of the doctors from our study consists of: scales - 98,5%, tensiometer - 98%, thaliometer - 94,5%, optotype - 91%, Ishihara color test plates- 24%, scoliometer - 4%. 25% of doctors do not have a computer / laptop / tablet in any of the school medical offices, 48,5% do not have a printer / multifunctional printer in any of the school medical offices, and 18% do not have an internet connection in any of the school medical offices. CONCLUSIONS: The medical examination of the health status of preschoolers and students is carried out regularly in the school medical offices. The number of new cases of recoverable ailments detected in school medical offices is important. The existing difficulties can be overcome through good intersectoral collaboration and the appropriate equipment of medical offices in kindergartens and schools / high schools.