An audit of spica cast guidelines for parents and professionals caring for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip

SummaryInadequate literary evidence, derisory spica cast information for the parent and a lack of information for the health professional was identified by Clarke and Dowling [Clarke, S.E., Dowling, M., 2003. Spica cast guidelines for parents and health professionals. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing (7), 184–191.]. The paucity of literature and inadequate information [Cuddy, 1986, Benz, 1986 and Newman and Fawcett, 1995], supports the development of new and innovative guidelines. New general and troubleshooting spica cast information leaflets were created for the parent of a child with developmental dysplasia of the hip treated with a spica cast and for the health professional who offers support and parental advice on spica cast management [Clarke, S.E., Dowling, M., 2003. Spica cast guidelines for parents and health professionals. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing (7), 184–191.]. This paper audits these guidelines and measures their effect in response to Governance recommendations [Governance in the HPSS-Clinical Social Care Governance, 2003. Guidelines for Implementation, HSS (PPM), Belfast, pp. 1–433.].Northern Ireland’s regional orthopaedic unit, Musgrave Park Hospital and the School of Nursing at Queen’s University Belfast, generated a convenience sample of parents (n = 44) and health professionals (n = 44). Consensus methods using retrospective questionnaires and telephone interviews obtained information from the sample groups. Findings suggest the parent and health professional need spica cast information, firstly as a contact source and secondly as a guide when problems arise such as plaster care. Pertinent issues were raised by both groups and recommendations were made as a result of the audit.