[How are personal child health records completed? A multicentric evaluation study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the completeness of personal child health record in France.


METHODS
Cross-sectional multicentric study, based on child health records analysed and parents' interviews; 1685 children were included: 863 infants aged from 12 to 18 month and 822 children aged from three and a half to four and a half years.


RESULTS
One Apgar score was recorded in 96% of cases; the sitting position's acquisition was registered in 91%; the age of walk in 81%. Growth curves were plotted in 64% of cases for weight and in 62% for height in infant's records and 22% of cases for both in older children's records. Ten per cent of the last visit to a physician were not recorded in infants health records, 19% in those of children; as well an hospitalisation for respectively 1,5% and 3,3% and a performed operation for 1,8% and 5,1% respectively. Immunization batches were exhaustively indicated in 68% and 50% of the records.


CONCLUSIONS
Many important data for medical follow-up are missing in the child health records, especially for the oldest children. Physicians and parents should be incited to a better use of the personal record.
Vincelet
C
C
Centre de bilans de santé de l'enfant de la CPAM de Paris, 96, rue Amelot, 75011 Paris, France. vincelet@ext.jussieu.fr
Tabone
M D
MD
Berthier
M
M
Bonnefoi
M C
MC
Chevallier
B
B
Lemaire
J P
JP
Dommergues
J P
JP
D001034:Apgar Score; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002657:Child Development; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D005602:France; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011187:Posture; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016138:Walking