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• Children's services: Author's response to Zuckerman
  Mitch E Blair
  Published on: 22 March 2016
• Re From health surveillance to health promotion: the changing focus in preventive children’s service
  Barry Zuckerman
  Published on: 22 March 2016

• Published on: 22 March 2016

  Children's services: Author's response to Zuckerman

  • Mitch E Blair, Paediatrician

  Dear Editor,

  Barry Zuckerman's letter describes the Reach out and Read programme (TM) as an essential part of child health promotion. Since literacy is probably one of the most health protective skills we can equip children and young people with, we would agree with him. In the UK, Bookstart was initiated in 1992 and by 2001 had a reach of over 1 million children. Through the Sure Start centres in England, a scheme...

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  Dear Editor,

  Barry Zuckerman's letter describes the Reach out and Read programme (TM) as an essential part of child health promotion. Since literacy is probably one of the most health protective skills we can equip children and young people with, we would agree with him. In the UK, Bookstart was initiated in 1992 and by 2001 had a reach of over 1 million children. Through the Sure Start centres in England, a scheme exists which provides every 7-9 month old living in disadvantaged circumstances usually through the home visitor (health visitor); a pack including two board books, nursery rhymes, advice on sharing books , information on libraries and story time community events. In one area, the 9 month hearing test was organised in a local library to help capture infants at an early stage! The scheme is funded centrally by the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Work and Pensions. Books are available in 16 languages. The scheme has been extended to 18 months olds and 3 year olds too.An important point raised by Dr Zuckerman is the awareness of GPs and paediatricians of this scheme and linking parents to it.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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• Published on: 22 March 2016

  Re From health surveillance to health promotion: the changing focus in preventive children’s service

  • Barry Zuckerman, Dr

  Dear Editor,

  Drs. Blair and Hall’s article[1] provides an important justification from a shift in child health surveillance to child health promotion including the important role of other disciplines and agencies. This information is relevant to the U.S. as it is to the U.K. However, I would like to bring to their attention for inclusion into their recommendations an important evidence-based activity that prom...

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  Dear Editor,

  Drs. Blair and Hall’s article[1] provides an important justification from a shift in child health surveillance to child health promotion including the important role of other disciplines and agencies. This information is relevant to the U.S. as it is to the U.K. However, I would like to bring to their attention for inclusion into their recommendations an important evidence-based activity that promotes children’s development and pre-emergent literacy. Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a program practiced almost entirely in the United States, in which primary care pediatricians give advice to parents about developmentally appropriate strategies to read to their child and give low-income children a book to take home at each health supervision visit from age six months to six years.[2] This effort is now practiced in over 3,000 clinics and practices throughout the United States and reaches over 3 million children. The published evidence from multiple studies show parents are more likely to read to their children, literacy oriented activities are increased and, most importantly, children’s language development is increased 4-8 points compared to children not exposed to ROR. Next to immunizations, Reach Out and Read is the only evidence-based health promotion strategy in primary care for children. Not only is this strategy effective but given its cost of $5.50 per child/per year it is exceptionally cost effective; children start school with at least 10 books in their home for under $30.

  I realize that pediatricians infrequently provide primary care in the U.K. but suggest that an effort like Reach Out and Read should be part of health promotion activities, whether practiced by pediatricians or GP’s to benefit high risk, low income children in the U.K.

  Sincerely,

  Barry Zuckerman, MD

  References:

  [1] Blair M, Hall D. From health surveillance to health promotion: the changing focus in preventive children’s services. Arch. Dis. Child. 2006;91:730-735.

  [2] Klass PE, Needlman R, Zuckerman B. The developing brain and early learning. Arch. Dis. Child. 2003;88:651-654.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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