The illness scoring system, Baby Check, does not reduce use of health services

Cole, Professor Tim

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health; Institute of Child Health, London, UK

Abstracted from:Thomson H, Ross S, Wilson P, McConnachie A, Watson R. Randomised controlled trial of effect of Baby Check on use of health services in first 6 months of life. BMJ 1999; 318: 1740-1744 .

Evidence-based Healthcare 4(1):p 22, March 2000.

BACKGROUND

Assessing illness in babies is difficult and is a common source of anxiety. Baby Check, an illness scoring system, was developed to help both mothers and health professionals assess severity of illness in babies aged six months or less.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Baby Check on parents' use of health services for their babies.

PARTICIPANTS

997 newly delivered mothers.

SETTING

13 general practices in Glasgow.

METHOD

Randomized controlled trial.

LITERATURE REVIEW

No explicit strategy; 17 references.

INTERVENTIONS

Parents were sent Baby Check (n = 497) and Play it Safe (an accident prevention leaflet), or only Play it Safe (n = 500).

OUTCOME MEASURES

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

MAIN RESULTS

In both groups, the median family doctor consultation rate was 2 consultations during the first 6 months (interquartile range 1-4 Baby Check, 1-3 control). The proportion of consultations resulting in no action did not differ between groups, not the proportion resulting in referral to secondary care.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Baby Check is well received but tangible benefits are hard to detect. It may prove helpful for certain subgroups.