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Development of a Scale to Assess the Attitudes of Paediatric Staff to Caring for Children with Medically Unexplained Symptoms: Implications for the Role of CAMHS in Paediatric Care
Author(s) -
Glazebrook Cristine,
Furness Penny,
Tay Jasmine,
Abbas Kirsty,
Hollis Karmen Slaveska
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00507.x
Subject(s) - scale (ratio) , medicine , health professionals , perception , family medicine , nursing , cross sectional study , health care , clinical psychology , psychology , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Background: Children with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) represent a challenge for paediatricians and typically undergo extensive in‐patient investigations for symptoms such as abdominal pain. This can delay access to psychological services. This study aims to develop and evaluate a scale to assess the attitudes of paediatric staff to caring for children with MUS and to explore factors influencing those attitudes. Method: In this cross‐sectional survey, 118 health professionals at one UK hospital with experience of caring for children with MUS completed an attitude questionnaire developed for the study. Results: Factor analysis identified four factors that explained significant variance in staff perceptions of care: rewarding nature of care; demanding nature of care; parental influence; children’s need for skilled support. The combined subscales formed the MUS‐Q. Conclusion: Paediatric staff found caring for children with MUS difficult and would welcome more support from CAMHS. The MUS‐Q proved a reliable tool to evaluate staff attitudes.