Pediatricians’ Training and Identification and Management of Psychosocial Problems

• Published in: Clinical pediatrics 2004-05, Vol.43 (4), p.355-365
• Main Authors: Leaf, Philip J., Owens, Pamela L., Leventhal, John M., Forsyth, Brian W. C., Vaden-Kiernan, Michael, Epstein, Leonardo D., Riley, Anne W., Horwitz, Sarah M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Child Behavior Disorders - therapy; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Connecticut; Developmental Disabilities - diagnosis; Emotional disorders; Expressed Emotion; Family; Female; Humans; Language Disorders - diagnosis; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - diagnosis; Mood Disorders - therapy; Motor Activity; Occupational training; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - education; Peer Group; Physicians; Psychophysiologic Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Wake Disorders - diagnosis; Social Work
• ISSN: 0009-9228; 1938-2707
• DOI: 10.1177/000992280404300407

This study evaluated the association of pediatrician training on the identification and management of current and ongoing emotional or behavioral problems among children ages 4-8 years in 19 practices in south-central Connecticut. Pediatricians with advanced training in psychosocial issues were more likely to identify children’s psychosocial problems and use multiple management strategies compared with pediatricians with no specialized training. Although pediatricians with moderate training in psychosocial issues were more likely to identify psychosocial problems compared with pediatricians with no training, there was no relationship between moderate training and management of psychosocial problems. These results suggest that identification and manage ment of young children’s psychosocial problems demands advanced training and support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ call for more extensive training.