Parents from urban (n=67) and suburban (n=76) primary care settings responded to a survey determining the extent to which 9 common psychosocial concerns have affected their children. Parents also reported their expectations of their pediatrician to discuss such topics during a health care visit. Within both settings, discipline was the most frequently experienced (41%), commonly discussed (34.3%), and frequently expected (75.4%) topic to be discussed. The frequency of discussions on psychosocial topics was less than half that of the actual reported occurrence of the psychosocial concern. When discussions on psychosocial topics did occur, however, most parents (87.3%) perceived pediatricians as helpful.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Glascoe FP, MacLean WE, Stone WL. The importance of parents' concerns about their child's behavior. Clin Pedi-atr1991;30:8-11; discussion 12-14.
2.
2. Young KT, Davis K, Schoen C, Parker S.Listening to parents. A national survey of parents with young children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998;152: 255-262.
3.
3. Hickson GB, Altemeier WA, O'Connor S.Concerns of mothers seeking care in private pediatric offices: opportunities for expanding services. Pediatrics. 1983;72:619-624.
4.
4. Angeli N, Christy J, Howe J, Wolff B.Facilitating parenting skills in vulnerable families. Health Visit. 1994;67:130-132.
5.
5. Klar H, Coleman WL. Brief solution focused strategies for behavioral pediatrics. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1995;42:131-141.
6.
6. Green M.Coming of age in general pediatrics. Pediatrics. 1983;72:275-282.
7.
7. Costello EJ, Edelbrock C, Costello AJ, et al. Psychopathology in pediatric primary care: the new hidden morbidity. Pediatrics. 1988;82:415-424.
8.
8. Chang G, Warner V, Weissman MM. Physicians' recognition of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Am J Dis Child. 1988;142:736-739.
9.
9. Policy Statements. American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org), 1998.
10.
10. Zuckerman B, Parker S.Preventive pediatrics-new models of providing needed health services. Pediatrics. 1995;95:758-762.
11.
11. Income data. United States Census Data (www.census.gov), 1990.
12.
12. Howard BJ. The referral role of pediatricians. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1995;42:103-118.
13.
13. Starfield B, Borkowf S.Physicians' recognition of complaints made by parents about their children's health. Pediatrics. 1969;43:168-172.
14.
14. Sharp L, Pantell RH, Murphy LO, Lewis CC. Psychosocial problems during child health supervision visits: eliciting, then what?Pediatrics. 1992;89:619-623.
15.
15. Horwitz SM, Leaf PJ, Leventhal JM, et al. Identification and management of psychosocial and developmental problems in community-based, primary care pediatric practices. Pediatrics. 1992;89:480-485.
16.
16. Wildman BG, Kinsman AM, Logue E, et al. Presentation and management of childhood psychosocial problems.J Fam Pract. 1997;44:77-84.
17.
17. Reikert KA, Stancin T, Palermo TM, Drotar D.A psychological behavioral screening service: use, feasibility, and impact in a primary care setting. J Pediatr Psychol. 1999;24:405-414.
18.
18. Drotar D.The diagnostic and statistical manual for primary care (DSM-PC), child and adolescent version: what pediatric psychologists need to know.J Pediatr Psychol. 1999;24:369-380.
19.
19. Cheng TL, Savageau JA, Bigelow C, et al. Assessing mothers' attitudes about the physician's role in child health promotion. Am J Public Health. 1996;86:1809-1812.
20.
20. McCune YD, Richardson MM, Powell JA. Psychosocial health issues in pediatric practices: parents' knowledge and concerns. Pediatrics. 1984;74:183-190.
21.
21. Schultz JR, Vaughn LM. Brief report: learning to parent: a survey of parents in an urban pediatric primary care clinic. J Pediatr Psychol. 1999;24:441-445.
22.
22. Stickler GB, Salter M, Broughton DD, Alario A.Parents'worries about children compared to actual risks. Clin Pediatr1991;30:522-528.
23.
23. Robinson JW, Roter DL. Psychosocial problem disclosure by primary care patients. Soc Sci Med. 1999;48:1353-1362.
24.
24. Wender EH, Bijur PE, Boyce WT. Pediatric residency training: ten years after the Task Force report. Pediatrics. 1992;90:876-880.
25.
25. Arborelius E, Oesterberg E.How do GPs discuss subjects other than illness? Formulating and evaluating a theoretical model to explain successful and less successful approaches to discussing psychosocial issues. Patient Education Counseling. 1995;25:257-268.
26.
26. Brazelton TB, O'Brien M, Brandt KA. Combining relationships and development: applying touchpoints to individual and community practices. Infants Young Children. 1997;10:74-84.
27.
27. Wolraich ML, Felice ME, Drotar D. eds. The classification of child and adolescent mental diagnoses in primary care: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care (DSM-PC) Child and Adolescent Version. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 1996.
28.
28. Little M, Murphy JM, Jellinek MS, et al. Screening four and five-year-old children for psychosocial dysfunction: a preliminary study with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. J Dev Behav Pediatr1994;15:191-197.
29.
29. Schroeder CS. Psychologists in a private pediatric practice. J Pediatr Psychol. 1979;4:5-18.
30.
30. Perrin EC. Commentary: collaboration in pediatric primary care: a pediatrician's view. J Pediatr Psychol. 1999;24:453-458.
