Paediatric management practices in Down syndrome: a follow-up survey

In a follow-up survey to a 1984 study, 339 paediatricians in Australia were invited to complete a brief questionnaire in 1990, in which they indicated their usual recommendations, practices and advice when managing children with Down syndrome. The response rate was 67%. The results indicated that the most frequent paediatrician-initiated referrals were for early intervention and for discussion with other parents; these options were selected more frequently in 1990 than in 1984. While referral to a social worker was the next most frequent choice, it occurred less in 1990 than in 1984. Other increases in referrals were for physiotherapy and speech therapy. Paediatricians were more likely to support referral to a geneticist, speech therapist or cosmetic surgeon in response to a specific parental enquiry, and less likely to support referral to a social worker or to full-time care. There had been significant increases since 1984 in the likelihood that paediatricians would order audiology and investigation of thyroid and cardiac function. There was less opposition to the use of sedatives, and virtual cessation of the use of tryptophan. Paediatricians were more optimistic about the likelihood of persons with Down syndrome living independently, caring for their own finances, and marrying, but not about other developmental areas.