PEDIATRICIANS APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS - HAS THE GAP BEENNARROWED

Whether recent advances in developmental pediatrics have influenced pe diatric practice is uncertain. We interviewed, in their offices, 41 ra ndomly selected, board-certified, primary care pediatricians in Connec ticut to explore their attitudes and clinical approaches to developmen tal problems. Responses were compared with those from a similar survey of 97 New England pediatricians performed 15 years ago, important cha nges in certain clinical approaches were found. For example, pediatric ians are currently less likely to rely on history and physical examina tion alone to confirm a suspicion of mental retardation (p < .01) and are more likely to refer such a child for further assessment (p < .01) ; they are more likely to perform hearing screening in evaluating a ch ild with delayed speech (p < .05); they are more likely to contact the school in evaluating a failing child (p <. 01), and are more likely t o refer such a child for further assessment (p < .01). Results indicat e favorable changes in pediatricians' approaches to developmental prob lems and support the greater emphasis on developmental issues in pedia tric education.