Parent-perceived attitude of health professionals and satisfaction toward use of child-health home-based record and its impact on parent’s record utilization

Background: WHO lunched a recommendation for the use of home-based records for maternal, infant and child health in 2018, and identified gaps for further studies. This study aims to examine parent-perceived attitude of health professionals and satisfaction toward use of child health home-based record and the impact on parent engagement with the record.
Method: A cross-sectional survey of 202 parents of children 0-5 years was conducted across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to identify predictors of parent utilisation of the record book using Odds Ratio (OR) at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and 0.05 significance level.
Result: Parents utilise the record book regularly for routine health checks(64.8%), recording information(40.7%) and reading the record book(37.9%). About half of parents each, were very/excellently(48.1%) or somewhat/moderately(49.7%) satisfied with the record book. Parent perceived nurses/midwives as most likely to use/refer to the record book(63.7%) as compared to Paediatricians(35.9%), GPs(35.1%) or other professionals(8.4%). Parents who perceived GPs’ less commitment toward use of the record book were less likely to read the record book (AOR= 0.636; 95%CI:0.429-0.942). Taking the record for routine checks is more likely among parents who perceived nurses/midwives’ willingness to use/refer to the record (AOR=0.760; 95%CI:0.536-0.989). Writing/recording information in the record book is significantly associated with both parent-perceived attitude of health professionals and satisfaction.
Conclusion: To improve parent engagement with a child health home-based record, health professionals must be committed to use/refer to the record book during child consultations/checks.