Using a Consensus Process to Develop an Evidence-Based Practice Guideline for School Exclusion For Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

<p>Head lice infestation (Pediculosis capitis) is a common nuisance in young children, carrying a social stigma that associates infestation with poverty and poor hygiene. School exclusion laws, regulations, and policies for head lice are implemented to decrease spread in the school setting. Exclusion rules may be developed by the school, by the local education agency, or, as is the case in South Carolina, by the state health department. Exclusion criteria should be selected from the best available evidence, as policy decisions directly affect children's ability to attend school. Recently published pediatric literature containing strong opinion statements regarding exclusion warranted close consideration of existing exclusion criteria. Lice treatments have been extensively studied and evidence-based guidelines are readily available for school health and administrative professionals to use in recommending treatments to parents. The use of school exclusion, however, has been the subject of very little research, and high-level evidence for exclusion and readmission criteria has not been published. This paper presents the results of a modified Delphi consensus process used with school nurses to identify the best, most acceptable, criteria for school exclusion and readmission for school children with pediculosis.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

D.N.P.

Level thesis:degree_level

Campus Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

College of Nursing

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Myer, Michelle Lorraine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Joan M Culley

• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Nursing
• consensus process
• Delphi
• evidence-based practice
• head lice
• pediculosis
• school exclusion

Statement dc:rights

• © 2012, Michelle Lorraine Myer

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/1691

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarcommons.sc.edu:etd-2692