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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kineret Oren¹, Ilana Shoham-Vardi, PhD, MPH², and Basil Porter, PhD¹. (1) Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel, 972-8-6477417, Kinoren@bgu.ac.il, (2) Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel

Background: The scope of pediatric care has expanded in recent decades to include social, family and school related issues. This research focuses on the ability of pediatricians to cope with the "New Morbidity" (NM), which includes: behavioral and developmental problems, school related pathology and social and ethical issues, compared with classic pediatric problems. Objectives: To examine community pediatricians' ability to cope with NM. Methodology: A sample of 574 Israeli pediatricians responded to a self administered questionnaire (74% response). The questionnaire presented 22 clinical vignettes describing situations which a community-based pediatrician might encounter. Sixteen related to NM issues and six to "classic morbidity" (CM). Physicians were asked to assess their ability to manage the problems. Results: Most respondents (71.3%) were board-certified with an average period of practice of 23.3 years. Problems related to NM were less likely than problems relating to CM (68% vs. 93%) to be managed by the pediatrician independently or together with consultation with other specialists as opposed to transferring the treatment to a specialist. Ability to cope with NM was not associated with training or length of practice experience. A multivariable model found the following predictive factors for coping with NM: geographic region of practice, combining community and hospital practice, and tendency to consult with other professionals working with children in the community. Conclusions: Based on this research evidence, policy makers must consider ways of restructuring current training programs to better prepare pediatricians for treating NM in order to assure comprehensive pediatric care.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Evaluate pediatricians' ability to cope with the changing demand of pediatric needs in the community.
• 2.Develop recommendations for restructuring training programs for pediatric care.

Keywords: Pediatrics, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered