Life Course Health Development in Pediatric Practice

Abstract

The development of health is a cumulative, dynamic, and lifelong process responding to a variety of biological and behavioral influences, of which those in childhood are especially influential and, indeed, formative. Reflecting the balance of positive and adverse experiences during childhood, initial trajectories for future health and development emerge. Preventive pediatric care can anticipate and respond to those experiences and the personal and social circumstances in which they occur. These actions can promote better health and prevent chronic illness during adulthood. Building on the life course health development framework, ways to positively affect patterns of individual and population health practice are identified. Maximizing the opportunity to influence children’s health over their lifetime will require purposeful partnerships with other entities with which children and their families interact as well as improvements in pediatric care processes. The latter includes expanding the databases that drive service (such as registries, care plans, and referrals) and adopting proactive, strengths-based, patient and family-centered, comprehensive, multidisciplinary models of care.