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The Potential Contribution of Computerized School-Based Record Systems to the Monitoring of the Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Objectives for the Nation

Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY

Robert S. Gold, PhD, DrPH

Department of Health Education, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Steven Shea, MD

College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY

This article discusses the potential contribution of computerized school-based record systems to help monitor the 1990 and future health objectives for the nation, to provide a continuing health data base on nearly 50 million Americans, and to improve current school health record-keeping practices. Limitations of paper-based health record systems and the state-of-the-art and future potential of computerized record systems are described. Several key obstacles to computerization of school health records are considered, including technological problems, difficulties in appre ciating and evaluating the benefits of computerization, costs, acceptability to individ uals and organizational users, standardization problems, and concerns about confiden tiality. Implementation steps involving research and surveillance measures for attaining the 1990 objectives that may be facilitated by improved school health records and information systems are specified. As school health education and school health serv ices increasingly become vehicles for achieving national public health objectives, including those set for 1990, it will be desirable to establish data systems that link information collected in individual schools with research and surveillance activities at the state and national level. Moreover, it will be desirable for school's health records and information systems to contain data describing students' health-related knowl edge, attitudes, behaviors, and physiological risk factors, in addition to the data tradi tionally maintained in such records.

Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 15, No. 1, 35-51 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/109019818801500104


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