Developmental screening, well baby care in Saskatchewan family practice

A total of 246 Saskatchewan primary care physicians were contacted to identify those in family practice and doing well baby care; 65 urban and 44 rural physicians were surveyed.The urban physicians had similar practice patterns, attitudes and approaches to developmental surveillance, except that Regina physicians saw more patients daily (p<0.005) and 25/29 routinely referred suspected children versus eight of 36 in Saskatoon.All physicians, rural and urban, relied on their "clinical impressions" to detect a developmentally delayed child. No one regularly used a formal developmental screening test. They cited time, cost and questionable value as major barriers. No one identified a regional child's rehabilitation centre as an assessment or management resource.Family physicians, regardless of practice location, should tailor their practices to insure early detection and appropriate referral of the developmentally delayed child, thereby minimizing disability and maximizing the child's potential.