This study indicates that local social domains, behavioral risk, and health care sources are associated with geographic disparities in cervical cancer mortality rates. The association between the chlamydia rate and the cervical cancer mortality rate may be confounded by other factors known to be a risk for cervical cancer mortality, such as the infection with human papillomavirus. The findings will help cancer researchers examine etiologic hypotheses and develop tailored, cluster-specific interventions to reduce cervical cancer disparities.
BACKGROUND
Educational and healthcare systems operate in silos. Few studies explore educators' perspectives of collaboration with pediatricians or cross‐system solutions for school‐identified concerns. We sought to investigate educators' viewpoints of collaboration with pediatricians.
METHODS
We conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews with full‐time teachers, vice‐principals, and principals, who worked with low‐income first‐ or second‐grade students. Interviews explored which students were concerning to educators, educators' experiences with collaboration, and barriers and facilitators of collaboration. Interview transcripts were analyzed with modified grounded theory.
RESULTS
We interviewed 12 teachers and 3 principals/vice‐principals. Students' socioemotional problems were a foremost concern. Effective collaboration with pediatricians was not typical. Participants described not knowing they could communicate with pediatricians or that collaboration was often limited or unidirectional. Respecting boundaries of parental privacy and maintaining parental trust emerged as potential barriers. Some participants described negative experiences with pediatricians and reflected on societal perceptions of doctors and teachers, which could affect the development of relationships. Participants recognized potential benefits to collaboration, including gaining a holistic understanding of a child's health and home life.
CONCLUSIONS
Educators perceived collaboration with pediatricians as inadequate. More developed and tested programs that foster collaboration between schools and pediatricians are needed to support low‐income youth.
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