Effects of structured encounter forms on pediatric house staff knowledge, parent satisfaction, and quality of care. A randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of health supervision structured encounter forms on pediatric house staff knowledge, parent satisfaction, and quality of care.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Pediatric house staff continuity clinic in a university-based children's hospital.


METHODS
53 pediatric house officers and 153 parents.


METHODS
House staff were randomized to use structured encounter forms focused on developmental milestones (group 1) or anticipatory guidance/preventive care (group 2) during health supervision visits.


METHODS
Changes in house staff knowledge were assessed with pretests and posttests. Parent satisfaction was assessed with surveys. Quality of care, defined as compliance with recommended guidelines for age-specific health supervision, was assessed by audiotaping visits.


RESULTS
Group 1 demonstrated greater but not significantly different improvement in knowledge of developmental milestones than group 2, while group 2 improved more than group 1 in knowledge of anticipatory guidance/ preventive care. Parent satisfaction with developmental screening was significantly greater for group 1 visits than for group 2 visits (P < .001). Group 1 demonstrated significantly greater compliance than group 2 with recommended standards of developmental screening (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of structured encounter forms for health supervision in pediatric house staff continuity clinics may increase house staff knowledge of developmental milestones and anticipatory guidance/preventive care, increases parent satisfaction with developmental assessment during health supervision, and improves compliance with recommended guidelines for developmental assessment.
Zenni
E A
EA
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Calif, USA.
Robinson
T N
TN
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000592:standards*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011787:Quality of Health Care