Survey of medication administration policies within schools in Sheffield

J Child Health Care. 2005 Jun;9(2):110-21. doi: 10.1177/1367493505051401.

Abstract

National guidelines exist to help schools in supporting pupils with medical needs. However, school staff are not contractually bound to help with the administration of medication and policies differ across schools, depending on local needs and views. A postal survey was conducted in Sheffield to elicit schools' views regarding medication administration. Over 80 percent of the responding schools were willing to administer long-term medication and 67 percent would help with short-term needs as well. Written information from professionals is valued by most schools and many would prefer that dosages of medication are adjusted to avoid school hours. Of the schools, 17 percent did not want to take any responsibility for medication administration. Reluctance seems to arise from perceived lack of training and fear of litigation. These issues need to be addressed in order to improve school staff's confidence with the administration of medication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Drug Storage
  • Drug Therapy* / methods
  • Drug Therapy* / nursing
  • Drug Therapy* / standards
  • England
  • Faculty
  • Guideline Adherence / standards
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Nurse's Role
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Organizational Policy
  • Parents / education
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Professional Role
  • School Health Services / organization & administration*
  • School Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Self Administration* / methods
  • Self Administration* / nursing
  • Self Administration* / standards
  • Social Support
  • Surveys and Questionnaires