Exploring parent views of community matrons

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare delivery
• Community health services
• Respiratory disease management in children

Background:

• The Children's National Service Framework emphasizes child-centered service design.
• High emergency admission rates for pediatric respiratory conditions pose a challenge.
• Community-based nursing services can potentially improve care access and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate parental perception and satisfaction with a pediatric community matron service.
• To assess the impact of the community matron service on emergency hospital admissions for children with respiratory disease.
• To understand the key elements of the service valued by parents.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative and quantitative data collection from parents of children aged 0-16 with respiratory disease.
• Surveys and interviews to gauge parental satisfaction and perceived benefits.
• Analysis of service utilization data, including hospital attendance rates.

Main Results:

• Parents expressed high satisfaction with the individualized, holistic care provided by community matrons.
• The community matron service fostered a valued relationship between the matron, child, and family.
• One in four parents reported a reduction in their child's hospital attendance due to the service.

Conclusions:

• The pediatric community matron service is perceived positively by parents, highlighting the importance of holistic, relationship-based care.
• This service model shows potential in reducing hospital admissions for pediatric respiratory conditions.
• Integrating community matrons into pediatric care pathways can enhance family-centered service delivery.