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Needs Assessment Toddler Parenting Resource

Contents:	1. Introduction 2. Main findings 3. Overview 4. Conclusions Appendix 1: Toddler resource questionnaire Summary

1. Introduction

In 2002 HEBS (now NHS Health Scotland), commissioned a piece of research to evaluate Ready Steady Baby and explore its relevance amongst its target audience (expectant parents, parents and health professionals).  Findings indicated demand for a more detailed resource targeted at parents of toddlers, with content addressing the practical and psycho-social/emotional issues specific to toddler parenting. 

Scott Porter Research and Marketing Ltd was commissioned in January 2003 by HEBS, to conduct a research study with the overall aim of identifying exactly what issues should be included as part of a new resource.

This document discusses the outcome of the research and provides recommendations as to the priority topics for inclusion in such a new resource.

1.1 Aims and objectives

Specific objectives were defined as being to:

•     ascertain the broad views of health and other professionals about the relevant priority issues for a toddler parenting resource;

•     identify the practical toddler parenting issues that need to be addressed;

•     explore a range of psycho-social/emotional issues experienced by mothers and fathers of toddlers;

•     establish professionals’ training needs relating to their ability to provide support to parents of toddlers. 

1.2 Methodology and sample

A two-stage approach was adopted, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.  Four NHS Area Health Boards were sampled:

•     Greater Glasgow selected for size, spread of socio-economic variables, and a range of initiatives including Starting Well;

•     Lothian represented another large Area Health Board, but also covered some semi-rural areas;

•     Dumfries & Galloway is a rural area, in which the Area Health Board has a dedicated Child Health Services Directorate;

•     Highlands covers a large and dispersed area, some parts of which are very remote. 

1.2.1 Qualitative element

Initially, individual and group interviews were conducted with key health professionals and parents of toddlers, with a view to gaining insight into the priority issues for inclusion in a toddler parenting resource.  The findings from this stage of the research also provided direction for the development of the subsequent questionnaire. 

A combination of individual depth interviews and mini focus groups were conducted with professionals across four Area Health Boards:

Table 2.1 Composition of Professional interview and group respondents

Mini Group	Profession	Location
1	Nursery Nurses and Nursery Managers	Glasgow
2	Voluntary and Community Professionals	Edinburgh
3	Health Visitors and GP’s	Dumfries

Depth	Profession	Location
1	Health Promotion Officer	Dumfries
2	Health Promotion Officer	Edinburgh
3	Health Promotion Officer	Inverness
4	Health Promotion Officer	Edinburgh

Depth interviews were also conducted amongst parents with a range of toddler parenting experience.  Across the sample, a mix of age (20-50 years), social class (ABC1C2DE), single parents and those in couples, first time and more experienced parents were interviewed:

Table 2.2 Composition of Parent interview and group respondents

Depth	Location	Gender	Social Class	Age	Parental Type	Marital Status
1	Glasgow	Male	C2DE	36-50	Experienced	Couple
2	Glasgow	Male	ABC1	20-35	Experienced	Couple
3	Glasgow	Female	ABC1	36-50	Experienced	Couple
4	Edinburgh	Male	ABC1	20-35	First Time	Single Parent
5	Edinburgh	Male	C2DE	36-50	Experienced	Single Parent
6	Edinburgh	Female	ABC1	36-50	First Time	Couple
7	Edinburgh	Female	C2DE	20-35	First Time	Single Parent
8	Edinburgh	Female	C2DE	36-50	Experienced	Couple
9	Lothian (Rural)	Male	ABC1	36-50	Experienced	Couple
10	Lothian (Rural)	Male	C2DE	20-35	First Time	Single Parent
11	Lothian (Rural)	Female	ABC1	20-35	First Time	Single Parent
12	Dumfries & Galloway	Male	ABC1	36-50	Firest Time	Couple
13	Dumfries & Galloway	Female	C2DE	36-50	First Time	Single Parent
14	Dumfries & Galloway	Female	C2DE	20-35	Experienced	Couple
15	Highlands	Female	C2DE	20-35	Experienced	Couple
16	Highlands	Male	C2DE	20-25	Experienced	Couple

1.2.2 Quantitative element

This stage of the project enabled assessment of the views of professionals with regards priority parenting issues.  In order to ensure that the opinions of all relevant professionals involved in this area of work were sought, an initial phase of desk research was undertaken to build the database of relevant health and other professionals from public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

A self-completion questionnaire was mailed to all relevant professionals in the four selected Area Health Boards:

•     GPs;

•     Community Paediatricians;

•     Health Visitors;

•     Health Promotion Officers;

•     Sure Start staff;

•     Nursery Nurses (private and public sectors);

•     Staff from other Voluntary/Community organisations. 

A copy of the questionnaire is provided in Appendix 1

A total of 3371 questionnaires were mailed out, with 1001 returned – a response rate of 30%.  This response, broken down into the four Area Health Boards, was as follows:

Table 2.3 Total Number of Survey Respondents by Health Board Area    

The profile of those professionals who returned completed questionnaires is shown in the following tables.

Figure 2.1 Profile of Sample By Location

Figure 2.2 Profile of Sample By Professional Group

The higher response rate for Lothian and Greater Glasgow can be attributed to a greater number of potential respondents in these Area Health Boards.  Similarly, the relatively large number of returns from health visitors and nursery nurses reflected the greater proportion of these professionals with experience of working with toddlers.

Table 2.4 Profile of Professional Group By Health Board Area

1.     The figures in the column below this symbol indicate the percentage of the total sample in each professional group, e.g. 14% of the total sample were GPs

2.     The figures to the right of these symbols indicate the percentage of each professional group based in each of the AHBs, eg. 44% of community paediatricians were from Greater Glasgow

Figure 2.3 Professionals’ Length Of Time Working With Parents of Toddlers

Almost half of our sample had over 10 years experience working with parents of toddlers, with a further 25% with 5-10 years experience.  This applied across most of the professions sampled, with the exception of those replying from the voluntary sector, who tended in the main to have under 10 years experience in this area.  Nonetheless, the sample as a whole had considerable experience of working with toddlers, indicating that the opinions expressed in this survey are knowledgeable and expert.

Table 2.5 Professionals’ Length Of Time Working With (Parents Of) Toddlers

1 The Figures in the column below this symbol indicate the percentage of the total sample falling into each experience bracket (ie: number of years experience) shown. e.g. 27% of the total sample had < 5 years experience.

2 The figures to the right of these symbols indicate the percentage of each experience bracket by professional group, e.g. 2% of those with >10 years experience were Sure Start workers.