Hip screening: are health visitors adequately prepared?
Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a crippling disorder, causing early arthritis if left undetected. In Northern Ireland health visitors routinely screen infants' hips at specific intervals up to pre-school age. The screening tests used appear simple but involve a high degree of skill in order to identify abnormality. A video study of three health visitors found that their performance was poor, but a marked improvement was noted after a period of specialised training. Bernadette Trainor et al suggest that more initial training and post-qualification update sessions are necessary to support health visitors in this role.
Trainor
B
B
Haugh
P
P
Kernohan
G
G
Mollan
R
R
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000451:nursing*; D010865:Pilot Projects