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Biomedical subjects

C Sundelin

Publications and source records attributed to C Sundelin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A prospective health register for children 0-7 years of age.

This paper describes a computerized register for supervising the health of children under 8 years of age. The register also serves as a source of information for planning the work at the child health centers. Experiences from its use after its introduction in 1975 are discussed. The paper is written both from a computer-technical and a medical-administrative point of view.

Child↗

Socio-economic status of the family and health problems in the preschool child. Lack of correlation in a Swedish sample.

Recent reports from countries with a highly developed economic status point out the association of well-being of children with socio-economic factors. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the extent to which health problems, i.e. functional impairments, diseases and handicaps, in 4-year-old children are related to socio-economic factors. The analysis was based on data from 7 173 children who had undergone the routine general health screening of 4-year-olds in the county of Uppsala. In the statistical analysis the main emphasis was laid on an explanation of the variance on the individual plane. The results showed that the correlations between health problems and socio-economic factors in general were weak or non-existent. An explanation of the lack of correlation in our sample might be that Sweden had succeeded in largely eliminating the health problems associated with external living conditions of the family. If differences between population groups do exist--and in the light of findings from other investigations it seems highly probable that they do--then these differences are probably to be sought in families' way of functioning, in the internal and external pattern of communication, in the general emotional climate and in the degree of social integration in the society.

Child Development↗

Child-environment supervisors--a new strategy for prevention of childhood accidents.

This paper is a provisional report from an ongoing field experiment in Uppsala, Sweden, with the aim to reduce the number of serious childhood accidents. Groups of parents have been systematically trained to function as child-environment supervisors. The experiences have been very positive so far. The child-environment supervisors have proved to possess good knowledge about how to prevent accidents. A large number of hazards have been detected and successfully eliminated. The groups are now taking an active part in the planning of new housing estates. The findings also indicate that the Child Health Organization should be able to play a more active role in the work of environmental improvement for the safety of children. A suggestion for a collective strategy for such activity has been worked out.

Accident Prevention↗

Collaboration in practice. Experiences from a multidisciplinary research project on child abuse and neglect.

This paper describes experiences from a three-year research project concerning questions of child abuse and neglect. The emphasis is placed on an attempt to define the real difficulties that have arisen during the course of this work, e.g. group pressure, breaks in continuity, goal heterogeneity, role conflicts and differences in frames of reference. Collaboration problems must be taken seriously and deserve systematic investigation. Multidisciplinary collaboration in different connections within medical, health and social care is of particular importance at this time when the care resources are limited. At the same time it is of decisive importance that the members of the team clarify their attitudes towards certain fundamental questions.

Child↗

General health screening of four-year-olds in a Swedish country. V. A strategy for improving the effectiveness and the cost efficiency of the psychological screening program.

Data presented in a previous paper pointed to the necessity for improving the overall sensitivity of the psychological screening program. The present report indicates possibilities for such an improvement without changing the screening methods. A comparison of the primary data of the true positives, the false positives and all the negatives (non-referred) revealed the necessity of more stringent referral criteria. It is predicted that the systematic application these criteria would result in an increase in the rate of true positives form 2.8 to 4.8% of the screened population. In addition a strategy aiming at a reduction of the costs without deteriorating the effectiveness and based on a differential application of the various elements of the screening program is presented.

Child Behavior Disorders↗

Health screening of four-year-olds in a Swedish county. III. Variation of effectiveness among examining teams.

The data gathered in connection with a routine health screening program for 4-year-olds were used in order to test a number of hypotheses concerning factors which might have influenced the effectiveness of the program, as well as concerning the quality of preventive care delivered to the children before the age of 4 years. It was found that preventive care of relatively high quality delivered to children 0-3 years of age had not reduced the prevalence of previously undetected health problems at 4 years of age. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated substantial differences between physicians in the rates of correct and unnecessary referrals. Only a small part of these differences could be attributed to professional status or specific experience with the program. They consisted essentially in varying thresholds for what was perceived as a health problem needing treatment, and were considered as a matter of personal temperament. True differences of quality did occur but were less prominent. The implications of these findings with regard to the continuation of the program are discussed.

Child Health Services↗

General health screening of four-year-olds in a Swedish county. IV. An analysis of the effectiveness of the psychological examination program.

Since 1969, 4-year-olds in the County of Uppsala have been offered extensive health screening at the Child Health Centres. In 1969 and 1970 a total of 3810 children underwent the screening procedure. The psychological screening instrument consisted of a questionnaire (to be answered by the parents), an interview of the parents, a psychomotor examination and an observation of the child's behaviour. 156 (4.1%) 4-year-olds were referred to a specialist team for investigation and decision concerning treatment. In the present study the effectiveness of the psychological screening instrument was assessed by its sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. The sensitivity was found to amount to a maximum of 0.73. The specificity was estimated to be 0.98-0.99, and the positive predictive value to 0.67. The authors consider the effectiveness to be sufficiently high to motivate continuation of the screening procedure for detection of psychological problems in pre-school age. Efforts should be made, however, to further improve the effectiveness.

Child Behavior↗

Health screening of four-year-olds in a Swedish county. I. Organization, methods and participation.

Since January 1969, a systematic health screening has been offered to 4-year-olds resident in the county of Uppsala, Sweden, at the ordinary Child Health Centres by the regular staff. This report describes some organizational and methodological aspects and presents participation rates and reasons for non-participation. From the overall experience it is concluded that the program is feasible with respect to systematic examinations and data collection, acceptance by the public and the staff, and with respect to the strain on existing resources. The reasons for and the importance of program changes are discussed, and the main advantages and drawbacks of the decentralized approach are mentioned. Finally, a theoretical framework for a quantitative evaluation of effectiveness is presented.

Child Health Services↗

Health screening of four-year-olds in a Swedish county. II. Effectiveness in detecting health problems.

Quantitative results obtained during the first 3 years of operation of a routine health screening program for 4-year-olds are presented. From these figures it is conccluded that the effectiveness in detecting previously unknown health problems needing treatment is high enough to justify the continuation of this systematic health screening by the ordinary child health staff. However, the total prevalence of newly detected anomalies was lower in our population than in similar studies where the screening was performed by a few teams of specially trained professionals. The consequences of this observation are briefly discussed.

Child Health Services↗