Public health and preventive healthcare in children: Current practices of Victorian GPs and barriers to participation

Abstract

Objectives: To assess general practitioners' attitudes to and involvement in child public health activities and identify barriers affecting their participation. Design: Cross-sectional written questionnaire survey of a representative sample of actively practising GPs. Setting: General practices in the State of Victoria. Participants: 840 GPs returned questionnaires (65% response rate), and, of these, 792 (94%) saw children 0-12 years. Main outcome measures: Attitudes to and involvement in public health promotion; predictive factors for GPs' involvement. Results: The odds of GPs' involvement in child public health issues were increased by being female (odds ratio [OR], 1.88), receiving basic ..