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Published on: September 19, 2019
Qualitative analysis of parents' information needs and psychosocial experiences when supporting children with health
Rachel Jackson1, Wendy Baird, Loretta Davis-Reynolds
1Section of Public Health, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. r.jackson@sheffield.ac.uk
Insights
Parents of children with health care needs prefer one-to-one verbal information from professionals, supplemented by written materials and a named contact for support. Effective communication and professional relationships are crucial for optimal care.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Communication
- Parental Support Systems
- Pediatric Health Services
Background:
- Understanding parental information needs is vital for effective healthcare delivery.
- Children with health care needs require coordinated support involving parents and professionals.
- Existing communication strategies may not fully meet parental expectations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific information needs of parents caring for children with health care needs.
- To explore parental preferences for information delivery and support.
- To inform healthcare professionals on optimizing communication with families.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing focus groups and in-depth interviews.
- Involved parents (n=10) of children with health care needs in Barnsley, UK.
- Thematic analysis of participant experiences and preferences.
Main Results:
- Parents favor verbal, one-to-one information from professionals, complemented by accessible written resources.
- A key support identified was a direct contact number for a named professional.
- Emphasis was placed on parental involvement in decision-making and respectful professional-child interaction.
Conclusions:
- Optimal information delivery involves verbal communication and written materials, tailored to parental needs.
- Establishing clear communication channels and providing a named professional contact enhances parental support.
- Healthcare professionals must consider parental psychosocial experiences and the family-professional relationship for effective pediatric care.
Objective:
To identify the information needs of parents of children with health care needs.
Methods:
A series of three focus groups and one in-depth interview were held with parents (n = 10, 90% female) in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Results:
Findings were grouped into four themes: delivery of information; levels of support; relationship between the family and professional; and management of events. Parents expressed a preference for information to be delivered on a verbal, 'one-to-one' basis by a professional, supplemented by accessible, written reference materials. The provision of a contact telephone number for a named professional, so further information could be obtained when required, was identified as a key source of support. Participants emphasized the importance of being consulted about the care of their child, the interaction between professional and child, and also of being treated as an individual by the professional.
Conclusions:
Delivery of information to parents may be most effective on a verbal, 'one-to-one' basis with a professional, in conjunction with written accessible general and child-specific reference materials. The importance to parents of the provision of contact details for a named professional and specialist nurse support is also emphasized. The psychosocial experiences of parents, along with the impact of the relationship between family and professional, and requirement for good channels of communication, must be taken into account by professionals during the care of children with health care needs. These findings have important implications for professionals and service providers for the future delivery of information to parents of children with health care needs.
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