Dataset Information

Randomised controlled trial of effect of Baby Check on use of health services in first 6 months of life.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Baby Check, an illness scoring system for babies of 6 months or less, on parents' use of health services for their baby.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

13 general practices in Glasgow.

Subjects

997 newly delivered mothers, randomised to receive either Baby Check and Play It Safe, an accident prevention leaflet (n=497), or Play It Safe alone (control group, n=500).

Main outcome measures

Data on consultations and referrals extracted from general practice notes after 6 months.

Results

At the time of recruitment, maternal characteristics were similar for both groups (mean maternal age 29 years; deprivation categories 6 and 1 in both groups; 424 (45%) mothers were primiparous). At 6 months, general practice notes were available for 467 (94%) of the Baby Check group and 468 (94%) of the control group. The number of general practitioner consultations did not differ between the groups: median number of consultations was 2 (interquartile range 1 to 4) in the Baby Check group, and 2 (1 to 3) in the control group. Use of out of hours services did not differ significantly between the two groups (86 v 85; P=0.93).

Conclusion

Distributing Baby Check to an unselected group of mothers does not affect use of health services for infants up to 6 months of age.

SUBMITTER: Thomson H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC31104 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Randomised controlled trial of effect of Baby Check on use of health services in first 6 months of life.

Thomson H H Ross S S Wilson P P McConnachie A A Watson R R

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 19990601 7200

<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the effect of Baby Check, an illness scoring system for babies of 6 months or less, on parents' use of health services for their baby.<h4>Design</h4>Randomised controlled trial.<h4>Setting</h4>13 general practices in Glasgow.<h4>Subjects</h4>997 newly delivered mothers, randomised to receive either Baby Check and Play It Safe, an accident prevention leaflet (n=497), or Play It Safe alone (control group, n=500).<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Data on consultations and ...[more]

PMID: 10381711

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Dataset Information

Randomised controlled trial of effect of Baby Check on use of health services in first 6 months of life.

Objective

Design

Setting

Subjects

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Randomised controlled trial of effect of Baby Check on use of health services in first 6 months of life.

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