Shared Understanding Between Parents and Clinicians Regarding Developmental Screening and Referrals

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Health Communication

Background:

• Parent-clinician communication during well-child care (WCC) is vital for early intervention.
• Misunderstandings regarding developmental concerns and referrals can impede timely support for children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine discrepancies in recall between parents and clinicians concerning developmental issues and referrals.
• To identify factors influencing these communication and documentation gaps.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the Achieving My Potential (AMP) study data.
• Inclusion of English and Spanish-speaking families with children aged 12-42 months.
• Utilized parental surveys, medical records, and demographic data to identify concern and referral discrepancies.

Main Results:

• 18% concern discrepancies and 8% referral discrepancies were observed.
• Children with moderate developmental risk and parents with lower educational attainment showed higher discrepancy rates.
• Older parental age and higher family-centered care scores correlated with fewer referral discrepancies.

Conclusions:

• Miscommunication, misinterpretation, recall issues, and documentation practices contribute to understanding gaps.
• Enhancing shared understanding, especially for at-risk families, is essential for improving early intervention outcomes.