Paediatricians were surveyed about baby walker knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Advising about walkers was associated with working in community paediatrics, treating walker related injuries, knowledge about walkers, and positive attitudes towards walker health promotion. Greater knowledge about walkers was associated with more negative attitudes to walkers. Educating paediatricians and parents about the risks of, and alternatives to using walkers is important.B aby walkers are used by approximately 50% of infants in the British Isles.1 They do not aid walking 2 but do pose risks to babies as a result of injury.3 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends banning their manufacture and sale. 4 Until such time that baby walkers are banned in the UK, health professionals will need to rely on parental education to reduce their use. To do this they need knowledge about walkers, a belief that such education will be effective, and that they are appropriate people to undertake this education. This paper reports a survey of paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to walker use.
METHODSWe developed a questionnaire covering paediatric experience, advice regarding walker use, attitudes towards walkers, and knowledge of walker use and walker related injuries. All consultant and community paediatricians working within the UK in the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health handbook (1999)(2000) comprised the sampling frame. A total of 180 consultant and 150 community paediatricians were randomly selected and sent the questionnaire in October 2001. Non-responders were sent one reminder after three weeks. Data were double entered into and analysed using SPSS version 11.0. Scales were developed for attitudes towards walkers and towards walker health promotion by summing responses to attitudinal questions (as indicated in table 1) and dividing by the number of questions answered. The scoring was reversed on questions making a positive statement about walkers, so that a high score indicated a more positive attitude towards walkers or walker health promotion. The minimum possible score was 1 and the maximum 5. Summing the correct responses to each of the seven knowledge questions created a knowledge score. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with giving advice about baby walkers, and linear regression for factors associated with attitudes towards walkers and walker health promotion.
RESULTSThe response rate was 73% (222/306). Responders had worked as consultant or community paediatricians for a mean of 10.9 (SD 6.7) years. Half (56%) were community paediatricians, 12% were general paediatricians, and 12% were neonatologists. Half (52.5%) had cared for a child following a walker injury, but only 27% did so more than once a year. Most (90%) were parents, of whom 36% used a walker with their children. Three quarters (74%) offered advice about walkers, with 74% always or often advising against their use. Most (89%) did not have any resources for discussing walkers with p...
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