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Article
Preschool Parent-Pediatrician Consultations and Predictive Referral Patterns for Problematic Behaviors
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (2008)
  • John Fanton
  • Brittany MacDonald
  • Elizabeth Harvey, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Abstract

Objective—The present study examined parents’ reports of the frequency, nature, and outcome of pediatrician consultation and interventions about significant preschool behavior problems. Method—Parents were asked whether they consulted or not with their pediatric providers about disruptive behavioral problems during a longitudinal study of preschool children. Results—Eighty 4-year-old children had parents who had consulted with their pediatricians versus 90 children whose parents did not. Children who eventually met criteria for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) two years later, received different pediatric interventions at age 4 than children who did not have a diagnosis, χ2 (2) = 9.28, based on parent-report. Eighty-nine percent of children who were referred for evaluation or treatment by pediatricians later met criteria for ADHD or ODD. However, 56% of children who later met criteria for ADHD or ODD were not referred by age 4. Conclusion—Pediatricians were able to differentiate between preschool children with transient versus persistent behavioral problems significantly better than chance, though a large number of children with behavioral problems were not provided with early assistance or referrals. Additional research is needed to obtain data directly from pediatricians about their interventions and resources for this vulnerable population.

Keywords
  • preschool,
  • ADHD,
  • ODD,
  • pediatrician consultation
Publication Date
December, 2008
Citation Information
John Fanton, Brittany MacDonald and Elizabeth Harvey. "Preschool Parent-Pediatrician Consultations and Predictive Referral Patterns for Problematic Behaviors" Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics Vol. 29 Iss. 6 (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/elizabeth_harvey/6/