title: Early detection of parenting and developmental problems in young children: Non-randomized comparison of visits to the well-baby clinic with or without a validated interview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine whether the early detection of parenting problems and developmental problems in young children improves with the help of a validated structured interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-randomized controlled trial held from December 2006 until January 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preventive child health care services in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  4438 eligible 18-month-old children and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A visit to the well-baby clinic with and without (usual care) the use of a validated structured interview for the early detection of parenting problems and developmental problems in young children: the Structured Problem Analysis of Raising Kids.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome consists of the difference in the number of 18-month-old children with high or increased risk for parenting and developmental problems. Secondary outcomes are the differences in care needs as expressed by child health care nurses, the percentage of parents and other children of the family attending, follow-up actions, the scores of parent report questionnaires and the time needed for the consultation. Data were analyzed by means of ordinal regression with propensity score adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Certain discrepancies were noticed: during usual care visits, nurses found fewer children with high (1.2 versus 2.6%) or increased risk (14.5 versus 20.7%) than during visits in which the Structured Problem Analysis of Raising Kids was used (p=0.002), but they also indicated that more help was needed. Conversely, no additional contacts were advised for 25% of the children whom the nurses in the care-as-usual group labelled as high risk, while all high-risk children visited with the Structured Problem Analysis of Raising Kids received additional contacts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Structured Problem Analysis of Raising Kids, a validated structured interview, improves the early detection of parenting and child-developmental problems in young children, compared to regular visits without an instrument. Structuring the collection of information about parents' concerns and care needs gives nurses information beyond their professional viewpoint and results in joint decisions that better match parental care needs and risk levels determined.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  www.trialregister.nl. Identifier: NTR1413.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Child Health Care, Municipal Health Service Zeeland, Goes, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: ingrid.staal@ggdzeeland.nl.
authors.forename: Ingrid I E
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Staal
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.vanstel@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Henk F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: van Stel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jhermanns@hsconsult.nl.
authors.forename: Jo M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hermanns
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: mail@guusschrijvers.nl.
authors.forename: Augustinus J P
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schrijvers
mesh_terms: D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009819:Office Visits
keywords: Child health care; Development; Non-randomized comparison; Nurses; Parenting; Parents; Preschool children; Prevention; Validated interview; Well-baby clinic