Impact of counselling on careseeking behaviour in families with sick children: cluster randomised trial in rural India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether training doctors in counselling improves careseeking behaviour in families with sick children.


METHODS
Pair matched, community randomised trial conducted in 12 primary health centres (six pairs). Doctors in intervention centres were trained in counselling, communication, and clinical skills, using the integrated management of childhood illness approach.


METHODS
Rural district in Rajasthan, India.


METHODS
Children aged under 5 years presenting for curative care and their mothers were recruited and visited monthly at home for six months. A total of 2460 children were recruited (1248 intervention, 1212 control).


METHODS
Careseeking behaviour of mothers for sick children; mothers' knowledge and perceptions of seeking care; counselling performance of doctors.


RESULTS
For episodes of illness with at least one reported danger sign, 15% of intervention group mothers and 10% of control group mothers reported having sought care from an appropriate provider promptly; this difference was not statistically significant (relative risk reduction 5%, 95% confidence interval -0.4% to 11%; P = 0.07). One month after training, intervention site doctors counselled more effectively than control group doctors, but at six months their performance had declined. A greater proportion of mothers in the intervention group than in the control group recalled having had at least one danger sign explained (45% v 8%; P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers' appreciation of the need to seek prompt and appropriate care for severe episodes of childhood illness increased, but their careseeking behaviour did not improve significantly.
Mohan
Pavitra
P
Child Health Program, Action Research and Training for Health (ARTH), 39 Fatehpura, Udaipur, India 313004. pmohan@unicef.org
Iyengar
Sharad D
SD
Martines
Jose
J
Cousens
Simon
S
Sen
Kalpana
K
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011939:Mental Recall; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010465:Perception; D012423:Rural Health