Developmental screening in family medicine.

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) has been performed in a family medicine teaching unit for eight years as part of a package of health screening and maintenance. Between August 1979 and June 1980, 261 children were screened. The results identified five abnormal, 14 questionable and four untestable children. A review of the 238 normal results separated them into 39 low performers, nine who performed well in the DDST but were seen to have problems and the remainder who functioned satisfactorily. In total 21 referrals were made to specialists outside the department who verified the positive findings identified. Ten of these resulted directly from the DDST. The nurse associate performed the developmental screening as part of routine child care. The test has been helpful in detecting physical and emotional problems, and also in promoting positive parenting and coping abilities through discussions, counselling and health teaching.