The Teaching of Child Health

Medical undergraduate teaching of paediatrics in the community

“…The general practitioner with a list of 2500 patients has approximately 1500 consultations with children each year and refers only about 5% of his child patients to hospital. A teaching course that is the result of planned collaboration between general practice and the hospital can thus give the student a wider and more realistic view of the nature and extent of childhood illness and the importance of the home and the family which was stressed by Mitchell (1973). Such teaching, however, cannot be left to chance; with a structured approach the broad aims of the teaching can be achieved.…”

“…Court (1969) considered that paediatricians should be prepared to make more home visits when this was considered necessary for a fuller understanding of the child's problems. Mitchell (1973), describing the teaching of Child Health, said that in addition to the ability to relate to other people and a knowledge of Child Health and Disease, the doctor needs an understanding of the socio‐economic circumstances which shaped the life of his patients. He noted that environmental influences tend to have a greater impact in infancy and childhood than at any other time of life.…”