Related Experiment Videos
Factors influencing parental participation in a paediatric cardiology outpatient clinic
Insights
Parents ask more questions during pediatric cardiology consultations when more is at stake, like before surgery. However, initial appointments are often unsatisfactory, suggesting a need for pre-admission visits to ease parental anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Health Communication
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Parental information needs are crucial in pediatric cardiology outpatient settings.
- Understanding factors influencing parental questioning is key to improving care.
- The first outpatient appointment often leaves parents feeling unsatisfied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze parental demand for information during pediatric cardiology consultations.
- To assess how well this demand is met.
- To identify factors influencing parental questioning and satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Observation and tape-recording of 1200 pediatric cardiology consultations.
- Random sampling of 102 consultations for detailed analysis.
- Analysis of parental questions in relation to treatment stage, condition severity, and consultation outcome.
Main Results:
- Parental questioning varied significantly with treatment stage, condition seriousness, and outcome.
- Most questions arose when definitive information was available or active intervention was planned.
- Contrary to recall, question frequency was not linked to consultation length but positively correlated with the number of medical staff present.
Conclusions:
- Parental participation generally aligned with high-stakes situations, except for the initial outpatient visit.
- The first appointment was frequently perceived as unsatisfactory by parents.
- An optional pre-admission outpatient visit could potentially alleviate parental anxiety and improve their coping mechanisms.
Abstract:
Twelve-hundred consultations at a paediatric cardiology outpatient clinic were observed and tape-recorded. A random sample of 102 consultations was selected and an analysis made of the demand for information by parents and the extent to which this was met. Statistically significant differences in numbers of questions asked were found related to stage of treatment, seriousness of condition and outcome of consultation. Most questions were asked either when definitive information was available (i.e. following cardiac catheterisation) or when active intervention was contemplated (i.e. catheterisation or surgery). Contrary to parents' accounts in subsequent home interviews, the number of questions they ask is unrelated to the length of the consultation. Similarly the presence of many medical staff at the consultation, was positively correlated with the number of parents' questions. In general there was a good fit between parental participation and those occasions where most was at stake except at the first outpatient appointment. This was regarded, at least in retrospect, as unsatisfactory by many parents irrespective of its length or content. We suggest that an additional but optional "pre-admission" outpatient appointment where the family visit the wards prior to the child's admission to hospital may help parents cope with their anxieties.