title: Pediatricians' satisfaction with their abilities to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developmental and behavioral pediatrics has emerged as an area of special interest and new responsibility for pediatricians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of training, experience, and other factors on pediatricians' satisfaction with their abilities to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to 211 pediatricians working in primary care clinics in the community in Israel. Items included personal characteristics and experience, practice and satisfaction with the care of children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems. Overall, pediatrician satisfaction with their personal abilities in this domain was defined as the dependent variable on multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 76.3% (n = 161). Pediatricians' satisfaction with their overall professional ability to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems was significantly and positively associated with the following independent variables: (i) satisfaction with training received in the child development field; (ii) satisfaction with psychiatric updates; (iii) general satisfaction with the available child development services; (iv) prescription of methylphenidate to children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and (v) having completed their medical studies in a country in which the issue is emphasized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imparting more knowledge and skills in child development and behavioral pediatrics in pediatric residency and continuing education programs will help improve the attitudes of primary care pediatricians towards developmental and behavioral problems, encourage them to treat these patients and their families, and better the quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Development and Rehabilitation, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Senecky
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inbar
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: Zachi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kahan
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires