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Published on: October 14, 2022
Parent's involvement in decisions when their child is admitted to hospital with suspected shunt malfunction: study
Joanna Smith1, Francine Cheater, John Chatwin
1School of Healthcare, Baines Wing, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. hcsjsm@leeds.ac.uk
Insights
This study examines how parents and healthcare professionals interact during suspected shunt malfunction. Findings will identify communication strategies that support or hinder parental involvement in pediatric hydrocephalus care decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Healthcare Communication
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Hydrocephalus management involves shunt insertion, with frequent malfunctions requiring parental vigilance.
- Parents often report feeling excluded from care decisions during professional interactions for shunt complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parental involvement in professional-parent interactions concerning children's care decisions.
- To investigate decision-making processes during suspected shunt malfunction events.
- To identify communication approaches that enhance or impede parental participation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing conversation analysis of recorded consultations.
- Semi-structured interviews with parents and healthcare professionals within two weeks of consultation.
- Prospective, purposeful sampling of participants involved in shunt malfunction admissions.
Main Results:
- Analysis of interaction dynamics to understand decision negotiation.
- Identification of communication patterns influencing parental engagement.
- Insights into barriers and facilitators of shared decision-making in pediatric hydrocephalus.
Conclusions:
- The study will elucidate how care decisions are negotiated between parents and healthcare professionals.
- Findings will inform strategies to improve parental support and participation in pediatric hydrocephalus management.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing the care pathway for children with hydrocephalus.
Aim:
This paper outlines the protocol for a study aimed at exploring parent's involvement during professional-parent interactions and decisions about their child's care in the context of suspected shunt malfunction.
Background:
Hydrocephalus is a long-term condition treated primarily by the insertion of a shunt that diverts fluid from the brain to another body compartment. Shunts frequently malfunction, and parents of children with shunted hydrocephalus are responsible for recognizing and responding to shunt complications. Parents feel that interactions with professionals when they seek healthcare advice for their child do always not encourage active participation in care decisions.
Methods:
The study design is based on qualitative methodologies: a combination of conversation analysis applied to consultation recordings of professional-parent interactions when a child is admitted to hospital with suspected shunt malfunction, and semi-structured follow-up interviews with the same participants within 2 weeks of the consultation.
Participants:
This is a prospective study and participants will be purposefully selected. Parents of children who have been admitted to hospital with suspected shunt malfunction and healthcare professionals responsible for the initial assessment of the child will be invited to participate.
Discussion:
The study will identify how decisions about a child's care are negotiated between parents and healthcare professionals at key stages of the care pathway. In addition, examining interactions between healthcare professionals and parents may identify approaches that support or hinder parents in contributing to the decision-making processes when they seek advice from healthcare professionals.