Physicians' appraisal of parental concerns: a qualitative assessment

In clinical encounters with children and their parents, physicians rely on both analytical and non-analytical factors to assess the clinical problem. Research on clinical gut feeling has recognised this as a significant diagnostic factor, yet little is known about how physicians evaluate parental concerns.

To investigate which parent- and physician-related factors influence a physician's assessment of parental concerns.

Nine qualitative semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 15 GPs and 15 paediatricians in Belgium between May and August 2022.

The interview transcripts were independently coded and analysed thematically using the constant comparative analysis method.

The factors that physicians use to assess parental concerns can be categorised into four groups: parent-related, physician-related, context-related, and child-related factors. Within each category, there are multiple determinants, with the most influential being having multiple children as a parent, the physician's work experience, and disease severity.

This study confirms some determining factors that have already been described in the literature, but it also identifies new determinants (for example, having multiple children as a parent and physician fatigue). Quantitative research could assess the extent to which the identified factors are involved in the assessment of gut feeling.