To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Guidelines Foster Partnerships Between Paediatricians and Parents: Presented at AAP URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/216976.htm Doctor's Guide November 1, 2007
By Nora Steiner Mealy SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- November 1, 2007 -- The third edition of the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) "Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents" provides guidance for paediatricians to work more effectively with parents and optimise child health visits. The recently released, 600-plus page book is a result of 5 years of research and incorporates input from more than 50 experts in paediatrics, family medicine, public health, dentistry, and mental health. "Bright Futures" provides child health professionals with priorities to be addressed for each of the 31 age-based health supervision visits from birth to age 21 years. It promotes an approach to patient care that regards families as partners with health care providers. Recognising that time is limited during well-child visits and that there is an abundance of topics to address and screenings to conduct, the authors provide guidelines for organising service delivery efficiently while tailoring care to the individual needs of the patient. "Our goal is to make encounters as valuable as possible," said co-author Judith Shaw, RN, MPH, Executive Director, Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States. Critical themes during child development are identified and discussed in detail, including family support, mental health, weight and nutrition, physical activity, sexuality, and safety and injury prevention. The guidelines help paediatricians address these themes during well-child visits. In addition, information about care for children with special health care needs, cultural competence, and complementary and alternative care is also incorporated. "Paediatricians told us, 'Don't tell us what to do, tell us how to do it and what to say,'" said Ms. Shaw. Consequently, the book provides examples of how to address sensitive subjects, such as determining whether domestic violence is occurring. A pocket guide will be available in the next few weeks that families can use to prepare for paediatrician visits. A "tool kit" is also under development that is anticipated to be available in the spring of 2008 with questionnaires that can help doctors learn more quickly about a child's particular needs and enhance parent involvement. It will also contain tip sheets that can be provided to families for each visit. The book is available for purchase at http://brightfutures.aap.org/web/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.