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Caregiver's Perspectives on the Healthcare Experiences of Children With Behaviour-Related Disorders
Naythrah Thevathasan1, Kathryn E Flood2, Alison Luke3
1Pediatrics, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Saint John, CAN.
Insights
Caregivers of children with behavioral disorders value pediatricians who build relationships and connect personally. Key barriers to care include long wait times and limited knowledge of available services, highlighting the need for improved access and support.
Area of Science:
- Social Pediatrics
- Child Health
- Behavioral Disorders
Background:
- Social determinants of health, including poverty and food insecurity, negatively impact child well-being.
- Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are at higher risk for behavioral problems like ADHD and ASD.
- Understanding caregiver experiences is crucial for improving care access for children with behavioral disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore caregiver experiences with children diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
- To identify strengths, barriers, and social limitations in accessing care.
- To understand the role of Social Pediatrics in supporting these families.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study utilizing three focus groups.
- 13 caregivers participated in the study.
- Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze focus group data.
Main Results:
- Caregivers highly value pediatricians who demonstrate empathy, communication, and a personal connection.
- Significant barriers include physician turnover, lengthy referral wait times, and insufficient knowledge of local services.
- Three primary themes emerged: timeliness of care, the need for advocacy, and the importance of relationship building.
Conclusions:
- Caregiver-physician relationships are vital for children with behavioral disorders.
- Addressing barriers like wait times and service awareness is essential for equitable care.
- Social Pediatrics can play a key role in mitigating the impact of social determinants on child behavior and development.
Objective:
Social Pediatrics focuses on targeting and mitigating the effects of the social determinants of health on a child's well-being and development. Negative health outcomes have been seen in children who have faced poverty, food insecurity, inadequate housing, and traumatic events. In particular, children who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged households are more likely to develop behavioural problems. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of caregivers for children with a behaviour-related disorder. This includes children affected by attention, academic, and social issues (e.g. attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder). This study will aim to understand the strengths, barriers, and social limitations to accessing and receiving care for children with behavioural disorders. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to conduct three focus groups. Of the 64 caregivers contacted, a total of 13 participants agreed to be in the study. All focus groups were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Preliminary findings suggest that caregivers value pediatricians who spend time, communicate, and make a human connection with their patients. Barriers included physician turnover, long wait times for referrals, and a lack of knowledge regarding services and programs available in their area. Three major themes emerged from this study including (1) timeliness to care, (2) advocacy, and (3) relationship building.
Conclusion:
Findings suggested that caregivers valued pediatricians who spend time to make a human connection with their patients. Barriers included physician turnover, long wait times for referrals, and a lack of knowledge of available services. Caregivers who were young mothers felt an added layer of judgement when accessing the necessary care for their children. This study is important as it contributes to our knowledge on the role Social Pediatrics can play in the care of children with behaviour-related disorders.
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