Increasing parent-pediatrician communication about children's psychosocial problems.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the differential effects of two scoring procedures for a parent-completed measure, the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), designed to assess children's behavioral and emotional functioning, on parent-pediatrician communication concerning psychosocial issues.


METHODS
Prior to their medical appointment, 174 parents of children aged 4-16 were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (1) typical medical care control, (2) Staff-Scored PSC administration, or (3) Parent-Scored PSC administration. Following the appointment, parent perception of parent-pediatrician communication was assessed.


RESULTS
For children with more emotional and behavioral problems, participants in the Parent-Scored group and the Staff-Scored group had better parent-pediatrician communication scores than those in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the Staff-Scored and Parent-Scored administrations of the PSC improved parent-pediatrician communication on psychosocial issues. The Parent-Scored PSC removed the scoring burden on the medical personnel.
Hayutin
Lisa G
LG
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA.
Reed-Knight
Bonney
B
Blount
Ronald L
RL
Lewis
Jeffery
J
McCormick
Megan L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires