Primary care physicians' knowledge of and confidence in their referrals for special education services in 3- to 5-year-old children.

Background: Children 3 to 5 years old with developmental delays are eligible for special education services.
Objective: To assess primary care physicians' (PCPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding their referrals to the special education system on behalf of children 3 to 5 years old.
Design/methods: Mail survey of 400 office-based general pediatricians and 414 family physicians in Michigan, fielded in fall 2012 and winter 2013, with a response rate of 44%. The 4-page survey included knowledge questions about special education eligibility, PCPs' role in accessing school-based services, and self-confidence in ability to help patients access these services.
Results: PCPs neither fully understood requirements for special education services nor were they very confident in identifying 3- to 5-year-old children eligible for special education services.
Conclusions: PCPs recognize interacting with special education as a relative weakness, and they may be accepting of interventions to improve their knowledge and skills.