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Objective: Children's health beliefs are significantly related to their adherence; however, pediatric literature has rarely tested health-related theories as a whole. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the use of the health belief model (HBM) in understanding children's adherence, both globally and to individual treatment components. Method: Thirty-three patient-parent dyads completed questionnaires regarding health beliefs and adherence to medical regimens. Results: Multiple linear regressions found a significant relationship among the HBM variables and reports of global adherence for children and parents. For children, the HBM variables were significantly related to adherence to aerosol medications, aerosol antibiotics, metered dose inhalers, and vitamins. For parents, the HBM variables were significantly related to children's adherence to airway clearance, oral antibiotics, and vitamins. Paired sample "t" tests found children and parents had significantly discrepant heath beliefs. Conclusion: These findings provide further support for the HBM in evaluating pediatric adherence, with evidence that barriers and cues to action may be targets for early intervention. Future research using this model to identify a comprehensive way to assess, understand, and elicit change in the adherence to medical regimens for youth with chronic illness would be beneficial.

Pediatric obesity is a widespread health concern and youth with obesity face teasing and ridicule, which can lead to academic difficulties (e.g., falling behind from missed class time). Teachers have a direct role in how children are treated by peers. We examined how teachers' views of children with obesity differ from their views of children with asthma, a less stigmatized chronic condition. Online questionnaires assessing attitudes toward children with health conditions were completed by 140 first- to fifth-grade teachers. Teachers rated children with asthma as more likely to be accepted by their peers than children with obesity. Additionally, teachers reported children with obesity as more burdensome to have in their classroom. Our findings that teachers reported children with obesity as more burdensome and less accepted may be influenced by societal attitudes related to the stigma associated with obesity. Findings highlight the importance of education for teachers on how to improve attitudes and outcomes for students with obesity.

Approximately 20% of children in the United States meet the criteria for a psychosocial disorder; however, less than 25% of these children receive psychosocial services. A questionnaire assessed primary care pediatricians’ (PCPs) perceptions of effectiveness, availability, and burden of treatment options for children’s psychosocial difficulties and parents’ acceptance and adherence with these treatments. Repeated measures analysis of variance found that PCPs are more likely to refer children with psychosocial problems to a mental health professional than to prescribe medication. PCPs prescribe medications more than counseling parents themselves or watchful waiting. PCPs reported children’s behavior is more likely to improve with mental health services than with medication, though medication is the most available treatment. PCPs believe parent training programs are very effective for treating children’s behavior problems, but believe parents are more accepting and compliant with other treatments. Findings indicate PCPs’ perceptions of availability and acceptability of treatment options drive their treatment recommendations of psychosocial problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]