title: Feasibility of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in assessing children's mental health in primary care: Finnish parents', teachers' and public health nurses' experiences with the SDQ.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following the administration of the SDQ in medical check-ups of 4-9 year-old children (n = 2 682) the involved parents, teachers and public health nurses were asked to complete a feedback questionnaire of the SDQ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents took a maximum of 10-15 minutes to complete the SDQ, and only the public health nurses reported that its use was rather burdensome. The SDQ was an age-appropriate method and it was helpful in increasing information and agreement about the child's mental health and need for support. Using the SDQ was a positive experience for parents, but they expected more dialogue with the professionals about the child's situation. The respondents criticised the questionnaire somewhat for being difficult to interpret and complete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SDQ was found to be a feasible method for screening children's mental health in primary health care together with parents, teachers and public health nurses. Using the SDQ was a positive experience for parents. However, they reminded the professionals of the importance of sensitive dialogue when assessing the mental health of the child.
authors.affiliation: a University of Tampere, School of Medicine , Department of Child Psychiatry , Lääketieteen yksikkö, 33014 Tampereen yliopisto , Finland.
authors.forename: Anne-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: Raili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salmelin
authors.forename: Pälvi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaukonen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joukamaa
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamminen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D064689:Nurses, Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors