Parents' concerns about children are highly prevalent but often not confirmed by child doctors and nurses
2008

Parents' Concerns About Children's Development

Sample size: 4107 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Reijneveld Sijmen A, Meer Gea, Wiefferink Carin H, Crone Matty R

Primary Institution: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen

Hypothesis

The study aims to assess the prevalence of parents' concerns about their children's development and the association between these concerns and professional judgment.

Conclusion

Many parents have concerns about their children's development, but these concerns are often not confirmed by health professionals.

Supporting Evidence

  • 49.3% of parents reported some concerns about their child's development.
  • 8.7% of parents reported frequent concerns, particularly about child behavior.
  • Frequent concerns were more common among young children and families with lower income.

Takeaway

A lot of parents worry about their kids' behavior and development, but doctors and nurses don't always agree with those worries.

Methodology

Cross-sectional data were collected from a nationally representative sample of children during routine well-child visits.

Potential Biases

Potential cultural barriers may affect the expression of concerns and the professional assessment of those concerns.

Limitations

The study is cross-sectional, which may limit inferences on causality.

Participant Demographics

Participants included children aged 14 months to 12 years from various ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-8-124

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