ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Assessing sense of coherence as an element of primary-focused health services in schools for children and adolescents with complex health care needs
Nabeel Al-Yateem PhD,
Randa Fakhry MPH,
Ahmad Rajeh Saifan PhD,
Roba Saqan,
Intima Alrimawi PhD,
Corresponding Author
Nabeel Al-Yateem PhD
Associate Professor
Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Correspondence
Nabeel Al-Yateem, PhD, Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRanda Fakhry MPH
Lecturer
Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Search for more papers by this authorAhmad Rajeh Saifan PhD
Associate Professor
Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
Search for more papers by this authorRoba Saqan
Research Assistant
Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Search for more papers by this authorIntima Alrimawi PhD
Associate Professor
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Trinity Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorNabeel Al-Yateem PhD,
Randa Fakhry MPH,
Ahmad Rajeh Saifan PhD,
Roba Saqan,
Intima Alrimawi PhD,
Corresponding Author
Nabeel Al-Yateem PhD
Associate Professor
Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Correspondence
Nabeel Al-Yateem, PhD, Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRanda Fakhry MPH
Lecturer
Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Search for more papers by this authorAhmad Rajeh Saifan PhD
Associate Professor
Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
Search for more papers by this authorRoba Saqan
Research Assistant
Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Search for more papers by this authorIntima Alrimawi PhD
Associate Professor
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Trinity Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: University of Sharjah, Grant/Award Numbers: 1801050331-P, 1801050329-P
Abstract
Aim
This study aimed to clarify if sense of coherence (SOC) could be used as an element of primary-focused health services in schools.
Background
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is striving to develop a high-quality, primary-focused health care system. School health care services are well established in the UAE but have not yet been fully used to play a key role in this development.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional survey study to explore adolescents' SOC and their behavioural, psychosocial and clinical outcomes.
Results
A total of 408 adolescents participated in this study. Compared with others, adolescents with higher SOC had better adherence to treatment, fewer visits to the school nurse, better self-efficacy, fewer hyperactivity problems, fewer emotional problems, more prosocial behaviours and fewer conduct problems.
Conclusion
Implementing interventions that improve SOC may support improved well-being among adolescents. The findings also support the use of SOC and salutogenesis as a framework to reinforce primary health care services for this population.
Implications for Nursing Management
Health service managers can utilize SOC as a framework to focus service on illness prevention and health promotion, they should collaborate with education authorities to include more health-related topics as part of school curricula to promote students' SOC and, finally, they should assess and build awareness of SOC and associated tools among school nurses and primary health care providers.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Data are available upon request from the authors.
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