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Setting priorities for children's health: viewpoints of family physicians and pediatricians
1Department of Urban Studies and Community Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
Insights
Pediatricians and family physicians identified key child public health goals, prioritizing substance abuse reduction and disease prevention. They believe physicians can best influence prevention by working with individuals and families, especially with improved healthcare access.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Family Medicine
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Physicians' perspectives on child public health goals are crucial for effective policy.
- Understanding physician-assigned responsibilities informs public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey family physicians and pediatricians on their priorities for children's public health.
- To determine physician-assigned responsibilities for achieving these health goals.
Main Methods:
- Mail questionnaire survey distributed to New Jersey chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians.
- Statistical analysis of survey responses, qualitative review of comments, and follow-up interviews.
Main Results:
- A 25% response rate from approximately 500 physicians.
- Top public health goals: reducing substance abuse, improving fitness, disease immunization, and maternal/infant health.
- Physicians assigned prevention responsibility to the federal government, families, and individuals.
Conclusions:
- Physicians are well-positioned to influence high-priority public health goals by engaging with individuals and families.
- Universal access to primary care and preventive services can enhance physicians' impact on child health outcomes.
Background:
In this study family physicians and pediatricians were asked to rank public health goals for children for the year 2000 and to assign responsibility for implementing these goals.
Methods:
All members of the New Jersey chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians were sent a one-time mail questionnaire. Statistical analysis of responses, a review of written comments, and follow-up telephone interviews completed the study.
Results:
About 500 physicians returned the surveys (25 percent response rate). The highest ranked public health goals were reducing tobacco, alcohol, and other drug abuse; improving physical activity and fitness; immunizing against and controlling infectious diseases; and improving maternal and infant health. Physicians assigned prevention efforts to the federal government, the family, and the individual.
Conclusions:
Family physicians and pediatricians routinely interact with two of the parties to whom they assign prevention responsibility--the individual and the family. The ability of physicians to influence these parties will increase if universal access to primary care and preventive services becomes law. This means they will also be in a unique position to influence high-priority public health goals for children.