Premium
Design and implementation of the new UK‐WHO growth charts
Author(s) -
Wright Charlotte Margaret,
Haines Linda,
Reddy Sheela
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.lb303
Subject(s) - download , focus group , product (mathematics) , set (abstract data type) , early adopter , psychology , medical education , medicine , operations management , computer science , engineering , business , marketing , mathematics , geometry , programming language , operating system
Growth charts are essential for nutritional assessment in childhood. The UK were early adopters of the new WHO standards and used this opportunity to completely redesign the layout and instructions of charts for children up to age 4 years. Method The design team drew on existing literature, new data analyses and product testing with parents and health staff focus groups, using case scenarios to assess plotting competency and understanding. Instructions were then written and tested with subsequent focus groups. Results The charts present preterm (using UK 1990 reference) and infant (WHO) charts separately, up to age 4. The 50th centile is de‐emphasized to encourage parents to understand the wide range of normal growth. Other innovations include a BMI look up and adult height predictor, which avoid the need for calculation. The focus groups revealed high levels of plotting errors, inconsistent practice, and high demand for formal training. These findings have informed a set of standardized supporting training and educational materials, free to download from www.growthcharts.rcpch.ac.uk . The charts were published in May 2009 and are now being issued to new births in England and Scotland. Conclusions The UK‐WHO growth charts are the first national charts to have been developed using an evidenced based approach worthy of the unique WHO data set. Funding: Department of Health