To Prevent and Handle Positional Deformational Skull Asymmetry in Infants —A Survey on Child Health Care Nurses and Parents’ Perception of the Given Information

Abstract

Background: Infants with developmental skull asymmetry referred to the physiotherapist have increased since 1990. At the physiotherapy clinic the parents often claim that they did not get enough or unclear information from the Health Care Centre. Aim: To investigate where a possible gap between parents and nurses comprehension is, and also to give proposals how to achieve more effective information. Method: A survey with quantitative approach, questionnaires were distributed to nurses and parents. Results: 84% of the nurses totally agreed that they inform all parents about preventative intervention. 98% of the nurses totally agreed that they inform about tummy time and 85% stated that they inform about the variation of head position. There were significant differences between nurses and parents’ perception regarding optimal time of receiving information, parents estimated that it was provided late. Only 19% of the nurses totally agreed that the routines were good enough. Conclusion: This study indicates that nurses inform but the parents do not always comprehend the information or understand the importance. Only a fifth of the nurses totally agreed that the routines are good enough, this indicates that better routines are needed. The nurses found it easier to give preventative information than giving information when a skull asymmetry had developed.