FACTORS INFLUENCING MOTHERS DECISIONS TO CONSULT A GENERAL-PRACTITIONER ABOUT THEIR CHILDRENS ILLNESSES

Background. In the management of childhood illness only a small propor tion of symptoms result in a medical consultation. Aim, This pilot stu dy set out to assess the influence of sociodemographic factors, social network, reason for choice of doctor and contact with allied health p rofessionals on mothers' decisions to consult a general practitioner a bout their children's illnesses. Method, In one suburb of Melbourne, A ustralia all mothers with children aged II to 26 months were identifie d from the maternal and child health centre register. Mothers were inv ited for interview and if they attended were asked to keep a health di ary for their child for four weeks. Logistic regression was used to te st a multivariate model of factors predicting consultation with the ge neral practitioner. Results, A total of 150 mothers were identified. i nterviews were carried out with 81% of target mothers and diary data c ollected for 72% of target children. Over the four-week diary period, consultation rates with the general practitioner were significantly hi gher if symptoms were recorded on 15 days or more, or the general prac titioner had been recommended by a friend or was the mother's own doct or before the child's birth. Contact with a maternal and child health nurse was also a significant predictor of medical contact, Contact wit h friends and relatives, whether or not the study child was the first child in the family, mother's education, husband's occupational status or contact with a chemist were not significantly related to medical c onsultation rates. Conclusion. Choice of doctor (current doctor same a s doctor before birth of child, or doctor recommended by a friend) res ulted in significantly more consultations as did contact with a matern al and child health nurse. These factors would seem to require further study and inclusion in future models of consulting behaviour.