Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J C Duby.
Children's developmentally diverse temperament, motivation, and competencies, when viewed through the lens of the agent-host-environment model, help us understand the child's contribution to the occurrence of injury. Pediatricians can use this information to individualize their safety counseling.
This study conducted in a pediatric hospital was initiated to determine whether an educational program focusing on the identification and referral of children at risk for developmental disturbances or variation would increase nurses' ability to identify such children and increase the actual number of referrals. Data analysis comparing pre- and post-intervention referral rates revealed fewer children being referred than should have been. The number of referrals did not differ significantly between pre- and post-education groups. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
When children at risk for developmental variation are identified at a young age, their chances of success in school and in the future can be greatly enhanced through early intervention programs. Pediatric nurses in community and acute care settings are in key positions to identify children "at risk" and to make appropriate referrals. Nurses are encouraged to engage in "developmental surveillance," that is, a continuous awareness of all activities relating to the detection of developmental problems and the promotion of development during primary child care. A parental interview of six questions can assist the nurse in developmental surveillance and the identification of developmental variations. Once a child is identified as "at risk" the nurse should initiate referrals for more thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and, if warranted, intervention.