Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25573526›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2015

Healthy Start vitamins--a missed opportunity: findings of a multimethod study.

Alison McFadden, Josephine M Green, Jenny McLeish, Felicia McCormick, Victoria Williams, Mary J Renfrew

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Getting underneath the skin: A community engagement event for optimal vitamin D status in an 'easily overlooked' group.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2019
    Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alison McFaddenCollege of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Josephine M GreenDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Jenny McLeishFreelance, Tunbridge Wells, UK.
Felicia McCormickDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Victoria WilliamsFood Matters, Brighton, UK.
Mary J RenfrewCollege of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.

Funding

Department of Health PRP 024 0032
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate and provide a real-life view of the operation of the Healthy Start vitamins scheme.

settingThe study took place in primary care and community settings that served rural, urban and ethnically diverse populations, in two sentinel sites: London, and Yorkshire and the Humber. An online consultation and stakeholder workshops elicited views from across England.

participants669 health and social care practitioners including health visitors, midwives, public health practitioners, general practitioners, paediatricians and support staff participated in focus group discussions (n=49) and an online consultation (n=620). 56 participants representing health and social care practitioners, policymakers, service commissioners, and voluntary and independent sectors took part in stakeholder workshops.

methodsThree-phase multimethod study comprising focus group discussions, an online consultation and stakeholder workshops. Qualitative data were analysed thematically and quantitative data from the online survey were analysed using descriptive statistics.

resultsStudy participants were concerned about the low uptake of Healthy Start vitamin supplements and the consequences of this for health outcomes for women and young children. They experienced Healthy Start vitamin distribution as logistically complex, requiring the time, resources and creative thinking of a range of local and regional practitioners from senior strategists to administrative support workers. In the light of this, many participants argued that moving to universal provision of vitamin supplements would be more cost-effective than the current system.

conclusionsThere is consistency of views of health practitioners that the current targeted system of providing free vitamin supplements for low-income childbearing women and young children via the Healthy Start programme is not fulfilling its potential to address vitamin deficiencies. There is wide professional and voluntary sector support for moving from the current targeted system to provision of free vitamin supplements for all pregnant and new mothers, and children up to their fifth birthday.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelHealth Care CostsPovertyAvitaminosisChild, PreschoolCosts and Cost AnalysisDietary SupplementsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMalePregnancyVitaminsVitaminsChild, pre-schoolHealthy StartMulti-method studyPregnant womenVitamins

Identifiers

PMID25573526
PMCPMC4289739

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.