Sudden infant death syndrome risk questionnaire: a mirror of parental awareness rather than a prospective diagnostic tool.
OBJECTIVE
In 1989, a scoring system that aimed to identify infants at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by a structured questionnaire [SIDS risk questionnaire (SRQ)] consisting of 25 items was introduced in Styria (Austria). It was the aim of the study to compare SIDS rates in the population that had access to the SRQ with the population that had no access. Furthermore, for the population receiving the SRQ, the responding (compliant) and non-responding (non-compliant) groups were compared concerning the incidence of SIDS.


METHODS
Within the study period, 53 865 births and 57 SIDS cases were recorded (incidence 1.06/1000) and analysed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The incidence of SIDS was significantly higher in the non-responding population (2.36/ 1000) than in the responding group (0.81/1000, p < 0.001). However, the incidence of SIDS was not significantly different in the population that had access to the risk questionnaire (1.29/1000) and the group without access (0.86/1000, p = 0.145).


CONCLUSIONS
The value of any questionnaire used for SIDS prevention may be limited by the existence of a non-compliant population which represents a risk group and should be targeted by other preventive measures.
Zotter
H
H
Department of Paediatrics, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, A-8036 Graz, Austria. heinz.zotter@klinikum-graz.at
Kerbl
R
R
Schwantzer
G
G
Kurz
R
R
Einspieler
C
C
D001364:Awareness; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires