Ann Arbor, MI – Parents may not always follow the advice of their child’s doctor, finds a new poll (.pdf file) from the University of Michigan.
As part of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital’s National Poll on Children’s Health, a sample of parents was surveyed in January 2013. A majority – 56 percent – said they followed the advice “most of the time” and one-third said they always did.
However, 13 percent admitted to only occasionally following the doctor’s advice; this was more common among lower-income parents. The areas in which this group were most likely to follow advice were nutrition, going to the dentist and using car/booster seats. However, they were less likely to follow directions related to discipline, putting the child to sleep and watching TV.
When unsure of a doctor’s advice, parents should seek clarification or examples and ask why the advice is important, researchers said.
