Do pediatricians independently manage common neurologic problems?

Abstract

Quality educational programs should ensure that pediatricians possess current knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes in child neurology. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pediatricians' self-confidence in neurology and their frequency of referral of children to neurologists. We distributed a questionnaire to pediatricians and pediatric trainees for self-assessment of their (1) knowledge and skill in performing a neurologic examination, (2) ability to interpret neurologic findings, (3) knowledge of factual information about diseases of the nervous system, (4) ability to determine the need for investigations, and (5) ability to develop a positive attitude toward neurologic diseases. While pediatricians had significantly (P < .01) higher self-assessment scores than pediatric trainees, 54.2% of pediatricians referred 90% or more of their patients with neurologic complaints to neurologists; 74.9% of pediatricians referred more than 50% of such children to neurologists. Interestingly, pediatricians who referred over 90% of their patients to neurologists showed a significantly lower self-assessment score (P = .006) than did other pediatricians in knowledge and skill in performing a neurologic examination. As neurologists, we should develop educational programs that encourage pediatric trainees to learn to provide comprehensive care to children with common neurologic complaints.