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Identification and referral by nurses of children at risk
Insights
A pediatric hospital educational program did not improve nurses' ability to identify children with developmental disturbances. Referral rates remained unchanged, indicating a need for improved strategies to support early identification and intervention for pediatric developmental variations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Healthcare Education
Background:
- Early identification of developmental disturbances or variations in children is crucial for timely intervention.
- Nurses play a key role in identifying at-risk children within pediatric settings.
- Existing educational programs may not be sufficient to enhance nurses' identification and referral capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on nurses' identification of children at risk for developmental issues.
- To assess the impact of the educational intervention on the number of referrals for developmental disturbances or variations.
- To determine if enhanced nurse education leads to increased identification and referral rates in a pediatric hospital.
Main Methods:
- A pre- and post-intervention study design was implemented in a pediatric hospital setting.
- An educational program focused on identifying and referring children with developmental risks was delivered to nurses.
- Referral rates for developmental disturbances or variations were compared before and after the educational intervention.
Main Results:
- Data analysis indicated that fewer children were referred than expected, suggesting potential under-identification.
- There was no statistically significant difference in the number of referrals between the pre- and post-education groups.
- The educational program did not demonstrably improve nurses' ability to identify and refer children at risk.
Conclusions:
- The implemented educational program was insufficient to significantly increase nurses' identification and referral of children with developmental disturbances or variations.
- Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate and potentially redesign educational strategies for pediatric nurses regarding developmental screening.
- Implications for healthcare policy and practice highlight the importance of effective training for early detection of developmental issues in children.
Abstract:
This study conducted in a pediatric hospital was initiated to determine whether an educational program focusing on the identification and referral of children at risk for developmental disturbances or variation would increase nurses' ability to identify such children and increase the actual number of referrals. Data analysis comparing pre- and post-intervention referral rates revealed fewer children being referred than should have been. The number of referrals did not differ significantly between pre- and post-education groups. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.