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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A trip to the pediatricians office could also be a good place for adults to get the help they need.
New research from Harvard Medical School finds parents are open to being screened for alcohol problems during a visit to their childs pediatrician. It finds they would feel comfortable getting a referral from the pediatrician if they need help.
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This is a surprising and important finding, lead author Celeste Wilson, M.D., Childrens Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, was quoted as saying. It appears that in the context of their children receiving care by a trusted health care provider, parents are receptive to interventions that can ultimately keep their children safe.
Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 parents at three pediatric primary care clinic sites in urban, suburban and rural areas. More than 70 percent of the participants who did not have alcohol problems said they would be completely comfortable being screened by their childs pediatrician. They were also open to being screened through a computer survey or by a paper and pencil survey.
The study finds 77 percent of parents who had alcohol problems said they would welcome or not mind alcohol screenings. More than half of this group said they would feel completely comfortable being screened by a pediatrician; 54 percent were comfortable with a computer survey; 48 percent were comfortable with a paper survey.
Other findings show parents who screened positive for alcohol problems said they preferred the pediatrician to start a discussion with them about drinking and its effect on their child, give them educational materials about alcoholism and offer referrals for evaluation and treatment.
The authors say the compelling endorsement of the pediatrician over other medical staff may mean there is a unique relationship between parents and pediatricians. They suggest pediatric training should include addressing parental alcohol screening and office-based intervention.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2008; 122:e1022-e1029
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Lindsay Braun at lbraun@ivanhoe.com.
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