Variables related to parent perception of wellness management.

Discipline, toilet training, development, and behavioral modification have been shown as issues that parents feel are not adequately addressed by the pediatrician (Combs-Orme, T., Holden, N. B., & Herrod, H. G., 2011). Research has also demonstrated that skill building (Mortensen, J. A., & Mastergeorge, A. M., 2014), nutrition, sleep (Combs-Orme, T., Holden, N. B., & Herrod, H. G., 2011, Scholer, S. J., Hudnut-Beumler, J., Mukherjee, A., & Dietrich, M. S., 2015), social emotional learning (Combs-Orme, T., Holden, N. B., & Herrod, H. G., 2011), and connection with medical providers (Mortensen, J. A., & Mastergeorge, A. M., 2014), are essential to appropriate brain growth and development in children. Examining the relationship between different demographic variables and a parent\u27s perception of managing these issues is a topic that has not yet been well-addressed in psychological and medical literature. The current literature focuses on perceptions of parents who have children with chronic conditions such as asthma and disabilities (Peterson-Sweeney, K., McMullen, A., Yoos, H. L., Kitzman, H., 2003, Heaman, D., 1995). This research has allowed for recommendations to be made to pediatricians to provide opportunities for parent-child education to address the concerns associated with managing their child\u27s condition (Peterson-Sweeney, K., McMullen, A., Yoos, H. L., Kitzman, H., 2003). In this study the relationship between different demographic variables and a parent\u27s perception of managing their child\u27s health and wellness was examined. Across 6 clinic days, upon signing in at the Pediatrician, every patient with a pediatrician visit was given the opportunity to complete a survey to evaluate the need for a possible parent-training program. We analyzed parent perceptions of topics including: how the parent is managing health and wellness, behavioral and mental health, their access to resources, nutritional health, communication with their pediatrician, and day to day issues with raising young children. This study will add to the literature by examining parental perspectives of parents who have healthy children. A better understanding of these perceptions will enable pediatricians to more effectively address these concerns during pediatric visits