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Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D?. Jan Dawson Caroline 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
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Are parents getting advice about Healthy Start and Vitamin D? Jan Dawson Caroline 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
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
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