Assessing mothers' attitudes about the physician's role in child health promotion

Tina L. Cheng, Judith A. Savageau, Carol Bigelow, Evan Charney, Sanjaya Kumar, Thomas G. DeWitt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives. This study assessed maternal attitudes about the physician's role in child health promotion. Methods. Home interviews were conducted with 200 Massashusetts mothers (with one child age 2 to 3 years) enrolled in a health maintenance organization. Results, Mothers chose growth and nutrition, physical development, and illness as the most important topics and felt that providers have the ability to prevent problems and to help. Psychosocial and safety issues were less important, although mothers felt suscepitible to these issues and believed they greatly affected children's health, Conclusions. On all issues, mothers believed physicians were more effective in helping families after, not before problems arose. The Health Belief Model provided insight into attitudes and possible interventions. attitudes and possible interventions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1809-1812
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican journal of public health
Volume86
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing mothers' attitudes about the physician's role in child health promotion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this