Pushy parents could be doing more harm than good to their children’s health, a new study shows on Tuesday.

　　Well-meaning parents insisting on batteries of tests for their children, such as blood samples, ultrasound scans and endoscopy, even though their ailment has no apparent physical cause, may not be acting in their best interest.

　　"A culture of parental consumerism in health care, however well intentioned, needs to be accompanied by robust systems to protect the interests of the child," said Dr Keith Lindley of the Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

　　He and his colleagues analysed 23 children who suffered from severe abdominal pain and had been referred to the hospital between 1997 and 2001.

　　All had been given routine tests to find the cause of the problem without any success. More than half of the youngsters, whose average age was 14, had already seen other doctors.

　　The study found that despite the fact that psychological factors are known to have a role in the condition the youngsters suffered, only 13 families accepted referral to psychological services.

　　The researchers said in 12 of these cases there was a significant degree of conflict or dysfunction in the family, as well as a lack of insight into the consequences of parental behaviour on illness.

　　Eleven children who received psychological support got better and resumed their normal activities within a year. Only three children of the 10 families that refused psychological help improved.