How do primary care physicians identify young children with developmental delays? A national survey

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Primary Care Medicine
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Current practices of primary care physicians in developmental surveillance and screening are not well-documented.
• Early identification of developmental delays is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the developmental surveillance and screening practices of pediatricians and family physicians.
• To identify factors predicting the use of formal developmental screening tools.

Main Methods:

• A mailed survey was distributed to a random national sample of pediatricians and family physicians.
• The survey assessed current practices in developmental surveillance and screening during preventive care visits.

Main Results:

• Most physicians reviewed developmental milestones and prompted parents for concerns.
• Approximately 50% of physicians utilized a formal developmental screening instrument.
• Female gender predicted higher screening tool use among family physicians, but not pediatricians.

Conclusions:

• While most physicians are committed to early diagnosis, significant variability exists in surveillance and screening practices.
• Barriers such as time constraints and reimbursement issues, along with underutilization of parent questionnaires, indicate areas for practice improvement.