Exploring the potential of a school-based online health and wellbeing screening tool: professional stakeholders' perspectives and experiences

Nicholas Woodrow; Hannah Fairbrother; Katie Breheny; Katrina d'Apice; Patricia N Albers; Clare Mills; Matthew Curtis; Lisa Hopkins; Sarah Tebbett; Rona Campbell; Frank De Vocht

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12748-2

Exploring the potential of a school-based online health and wellbeing screening tool: professional stakeholders' perspectives and experiences

BMC Public Health. 2022 Feb 16;22(1):324. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12748-2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, S1 4DA, Sheffield, UK. n.woodrow@sheffield.ac.uk.
² Health Sciences School, University of Sheffield, 3a Clarkehouse Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK.
³ Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Barley House, University of Bristol, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, BS8 2BN, Bristol, UK.
⁴ Public Health, Floor 4, Halford Wing, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, LE1 1FZ, Leicester City Council, UK.
⁵ Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Bridge Park Plaza, Bridge Park Road, Thurmaston, Leicestershire, LE4 8PQ, Leicester, UK.

Abstract

Background: Supporting children and young people's (CYP) mental and physical health is a global policy priority but detecting need and facilitating access to health services and support is challenging. This paper explores professional stakeholders' perspectives of the acceptability, utility and effectiveness of a school-based online health and wellbeing screening tool, the Digital Health Contact (DHC). The DHC, delivered by Public Health School Nurses (PHSN), aims to identify, and put in place strategies to support, unmet health needs among CYP.

Methods: We employed a qualitative study design, using semi-structured interviews. Fourteen key stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of the DHC (commissioners, providers, PHSN and healthcare staff, school leaders) were purposively sampled. Data were analysed thematically.

Results: Our analysis generated two key themes: the perceived benefits of the DHC; and challenges in delivering the DHC. Stakeholders perceived the universal application of the DHC with linked follow-up intervention as an effective means of identifying and supporting CYP with unmet needs, and an efficient way to target limited service resources. There were barriers around enabling school engagement in the DHC, typically in terms of logistics, school infrastructure, and perspectives of fit with schools. These barriers were seen as being negated through developing effective working relationships between schools and PHSN. Effective relationships could highlight the potential benefits of participation. Overall, the DHC was seen as a valuable and effective use of resources, with a low burden on school staff.

Conclusions: The DHC, as a universal school-based health and wellbeing screening tool with linked follow-up intervention, has great potential in identifying and supporting unmet health needs among CYP. The perspectives and experiences of those involved in delivering the DHC highlight important considerations which may enable effective implementation and delivery of school screening programmes across other areas.

Keywords: Children and young people; Health screening; School.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
Mass Screening*
Qualitative Research
Schools*