A recent article in Education Review highlights the complexity of the health-educationinterface for young people with chronic health conditions (see attached article). This paper is by Eve Bowtell who is undertaking a PhD student based at the Centre for Adolescent Health through the Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, under the supervision of Professor Susan Sawyer (The University of Melbourne), Dr Julie Green (RCH Education Institute) and Dr Rosalie Aroni (Monash University).

In Eve’s study, parents with a child with one of three chronic health conditions in the final years of secondary education were invited to participate via an indepth interview. The three health conditions were: cystic fibrosis, a largely invisible condition that is life-long and usually diagnosed within the first year of life; cancer, a condition well-recognised by the community; and anorexia nervosa, a mental health condition with clear physical impact. Stakeholders from both the education and health sectors were also invited to share their perceptions and experiences of seeking or providing support for these young people.

The preliminary findings suggest that to usefully support students with chronic health conditions the following are important: clear communication between the health and education sectors; confidentiality of student health information; and clear pathways that respect this but simultaneously enable teachers, including emergency teachers, to understand individual students’ needs. Of particular interest has been the comparative differences across the three conditions and what this means for the provision of support for students with chronic health conditions, which is the focus of subsequent qualitative analysis.

To read the article click here: At School with a Chronic Condition. Eve Bowtell