How well are parent held records kept and completed?

During 1986 and 1987 parents in part of the Oxfordshire district health authority were given their child's health and development records while in the other part of the health district the records remained with the clinic. Between August 1988 and February 1989 an audit was made of a sample of parents attending child health clinics in the two areas: the study examined 284 parents who had parent held records and 168 who did not; how many records were available and if not, why not; how well and by whom records were completed and parents' views on who they felt should keep the record. Interviews revealed that parents with a parent held record liked the scheme and were confident about remembering to take the record to the clinic. Those without experience were less confident and more concerned about losing the record. At the time of the audit 7% of parent held records had been lost or forgotten, but 5% of clinic held records were not available for inspection. Overall, parent held records were more likely to have comments contributed by parents and to be more thoroughly completed by professionals. The results suggest that parent held records are not only workable but desirable.