Confirmation. Practice behavior for treatment of new morbidity disorders reflects residency experience
W. F. Dodge, B. U. Philips Jr, M. L. Fillman and J. A. Hokanson
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate congruence between
practice and residency training in the treatment of children with five "new
morbidity" disorders. Data were obtained through mailed questionnaires.
Counseling and behavior modification, without medications, were used for
all five disorders by respondents most recently completing pediatric
residency. Medications were used more frequently by pediatricians who had
completed their residency training longer ago, particularly for nocturnal
enuresis and chronic abdominal pain. The most recent graduates tended to
treat a larger number of children with temper tantrums and separation
anxiety. This is believed to result from more recent graduates being more
comfortable and confident in recognizing and treating these conditions. In
contrast, no association was noted between year in which residency was
completed and number of children treated for nocturnal enuresis and chronic
abdominal pain. This results from parents volunteering these symptomatic
conditions since they perceive them to be medical problems.
