A longitudinal study was begun 4 years ago in Rochester, New York, to evaluate the need for conducting periodic school medical examinations. This is the second report from this study. The data are based upon annual medical examinations of a 15% sample of children who were first-grade pupils in the school year 1952-53. The present report concerns 901 first-grade school children, followed with unusually careful annual medical examinations for a period of 1 to 3 years, the majority for 3 years. Only nine new adverse conditions were discovered which could not have been found by means other than the performance of a routine annual medical examination in the school. Detailed findings are presented, and the implications discussed. The authors believe that the findings are applicable to other American communities. It was concluded that the periodic school medical examination during the first 4 years of elementary school are of little value from the standpoint of finding cases of new adverse conditions. The article challenges the responsible agencies to review the results of the routine examinations and consider whether or not they should he continued.
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