Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D?
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Transcript of Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D?
Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D?
Jan DawsonCaroline Smith
Qualitative study of parent’s views
• To gather parent’s views on advice & where they would like to obtain their vitamins as part of Greater Manchester work on Healthy Start
• 146 parents & parents-to-be questioned across GM
• Different settings and areas over past month• One of three questionnaires completed by
face to face contact
Pregnancy Q Under 6m Q 6m-4 Q0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Numbers in Qualitative study
Num
bers
Findings
• 26 out of 146 receiving Healthy Start vouchers• 14 of the 26 do not claim the vitamins• In pregnancy 34 parents purchased/ or had
purchased other pregnancy related vitamins• 10 parents bought children’s vitamins
containing vitamin D• Of these 3 were receiving Healthy Start
vouchers
Total poulation Number receiving Number claiming vitamins0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Healthy start vouchers & vitaminsN
umbe
rs
Significant Findings
• Only 76 out of 146 parents had had someone discuss Healthy Start with them
• 24 families appeared to be entitled to Healthy Start and needed to apply
• 4 families needed to chase their applications
Parent’s preferences for stockists of vitamins
The most common place:• Supermarket including supermarket pharmacy• Community Pharmacy• General Practitioner’s surgery• Health Centre
Different Practices of Health Professionals
• Serological testing whole population• Symptomatic investigations• Treat universally with Vitamin D• Do nothing
Issues from study
• Access to vitamins currently an issue (stocks in Health centres, manufacturers supply)• Parents not aware it is a voucher – no value• Professionals poorly informed (Lack of CPD, training)• Healthy Start & vitamin D do not appear in service
specifications – not part of job!• No follow up by professionals following application• Time issues for professionals• Professionals making judgements about income levels
Possible next steps depending on HIA
• Public campaign to raise awareness of vitamin D and Healthy Start
• Systematic training programme for all social care and NHS professionals including CPD
• Student training• Work with Department of Health around
vouchers