School health education in family medicine and pediatrics

This study concerns what is thought appropriate and what is being taught residents in family practice and pediatrics. University based training programs were selected for study and 63 family practice and 125 pediatric programs were surveyed by mail. The response rate for two mailings was 76 percent for pediatric and 81 percent for family practice programs. A larger proportion of pediatric than family practice programs teach diagnosis of mental retardation; educational placement of the mentally retarded; diagnosis of communication defects; trends in special education, and placement in special education; interdisciplinary teaming; and organization of the school system. Family practice programs focus more on the health problems of the school-aged athlete and the teaching of health education. School consultation and the implementation of clinical preventive medicine into care of the school-aged child are evident areas of weakness in current programs. The family physician must become more involved with the school placement of children and be aware of the relationship between school activities and health problems seen in the office setting.