[School health services: parents' and teachers' opinions]

Although School Health Services (SHS) are an efficient way of providing health care to children and adolescents, in recent years they have been curtailed in Israel.

To study parents' and teachers' knowledge about the content of SHS, their use and importance, and their preferred way of delivering these services.

From December 2006 - January 2007, teachers (n=304) of 2nd-12th-grade pupils and the pupils' parents (n=808) in state schools of the Hebrew education system (both secular and religious) were interviewed by phone. Parents were located by random dialing (response rate 63%), and the teachers from a Ministry of Education list (response rate 70%).

About 70% of parents and teachers knew that SHS provide immunizations; 70% and 80% respectively, reported they provided first aid. Only 8% of the parents and 13% of the teachers reported that a nurse came at least three days a week to the school and most of them preferred that the nurse should come every day. Most respondents said that the SHS did important work. About a third of parents and 40% of teachers preferred that all health care services be provided in the schools by doctor and nurse; 40% of parents and teachers wanted the nurse to provide counseling and that the rest of SHS content be provided by the regular primary health care providers; 20% of parents and 14% of teachers preferred other options.

Parents and teachers rate SHS as important and are prepared to consider alternatives for their delivery. This should be considered when re-organizing the SHS.