Schools are essential settings for research that tests the effectiveness of health
educational interventions in natural settings (classrooms). There are several reasons
schools are important research settings. First, public schools serve over 50 million
youth, and private schools serve an additional 5 million youth (
United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics et al.,
2015
). Most school-aged children are served by formal schools and spend most of their
waking hours in school settings. Second, schools serve as a focus of community activity
and identity. Many schools host community events including after-school programs,
summer programs, community meetings, and official polling locations for elections.
Third, school settings enable health programs to efficiently reach large numbers of
children and their families. Strong partnerships with school personnel and stakeholders
enhance the reach and impact of these programs. Although schools are an important
setting for recruitment efforts, there are also important barriers to using schools
as a setting for research projects. The purpose of this article is to describe challenges
to implementing scientific studies in schools and ways to develop effective practices
to improve recruitment and retention and to sustain partnerships in school-based studies.
A series of practical strategies for effective collaboration between schools and research
projects will be shared.
Key Words
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Biography
Laureen H. Smith, Associate Professor and Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Biography
Rick L. Petosa, Professor, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 16, 2016
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
