An instrument for the recording of student health complaints

This study described the development and uses of an instrument for the systematic collection of student health complaints in school. A booklet was prepared listing all student's names for one rural elementary school. A code to indicate date, class period, complaint, and outcome was utilized for collecting data. After a 2.5 month trial period, data were analyzed. The findings revealed 418 visits to the school health room -- range of visits by classroom was 3 to 71 -- most visits were for stomach ache or physical injury -- one classroom accounted for 16% of all visits -- fourth and sixth grades had a significantly larger number of visits than grades three, five, and seven.