Starting Right, an evidence-based assessment of children in municipalities healthcare centers

Abstract During the last century, children’s health has evolved significantly, with mental health issues becoming a prominent public health concern. Childhood health problems profoundly impact quality of life (QoL), development, school functioning, and social interactions, affecting society broadly. In Norway, child and school health services offer free comprehensive care within the municipal primary health care system, prioritizing health promotion and prevention to address social health inequalities. The Norwegian Starting RightTM project recruits’ children aged 6 months to16 years and their parents, emphasizing early intervention and support to reduce health inequalities and promote well-being. In the Starting RightTM project, online proxy- and child-reported questionnaires are used to support public health nurses (PHNs) in assessing children’s health and development in routine follow- up. Parents and children receive an SMS text message asking them to answer an online questionnaire before attending their regular appointments in child or school health services. Validated instruments measure the development (ASQ, ASQ-SE), mental health (SDQ) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), (KIDSCREEN -27). By mapping children and adolescents’ health and through discussions with PHNs, parents and children may be more involved in children’s health and development and may increase their Health Literacy. The primary objective of the proposed project is to develop child and school health services and improve children’s health and HRQoL. The ongoing project is the first to systematically assess development, health and HRQoL in children and adolescents in Norway through ordinary services, and to do so longitudinally. At present, >2000 children have been included. The large sample size combined with a broad multi- and interdisciplinary approach is unique from a national perspective. The upcoming workshop will showcase findings from this innovative study.