Information needs of parents for acute childhood illness: determining ‘what, how, where and when’ of safety netting using a qualitative exploration with parents and clinicians

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the views of parents and clinicians regarding the optimal content, format and delivery of safety netting information for acute childhood illness.DesignQualitative study including semistructured focus groups and interviews.SettingFirst contact care settings, community centres, children's centres and nurseries in the Midlands, UK.Participants27 parents from a travelling community, Asian British community and white British community. Sixteen clinicians including 10 doctors and 6 nurses from a general practice surgery, an out-of-hours service and two emergency departments (paediatric and combined adult and paediatric).ResultsParticipants described a need for safety netting to contain information on signs and symptoms of serious and common illnesses, illness management and where and when to seek help. Resources should be basic, simple to use and contain simple symbols. A key criterion was professional endorsement of resources. Internet-based information was desired which is reliable, consistent and up-to-date. Participants described a need for different types of information: that which could be delivered during consultations, as well as more general information for parents to access before consulting a healthcare professional. Face-to-face education, written materials and digital media were suggested delivery mechanisms. Audiovisual material was preferred by families with low literacy. Participants commonly suggested internet-based and phone-based resources, but the travelling community was less comfortable with these approaches.ConclusionsA multifaceted and tailored approach to safety netting is needed so that effective resources are available for parents with varying information needs, literacy levels and ability to use information technology. We have identified key aspects of content, quality criteria, format and delivery mechanisms for safety netting information from the perspectives of clinicians and parents. Resources should be coproduced with parents and clinicians to ensure that they are valued and utilised by both groups.

Mothers’ decision-making during times of stress as a lone parent: a qualitative study

“…Many studies reflect that mothers experience heightened anxiety when consulting about their child 5 18 19. As a result, it is difficult to obtain an accurate record of the reasoning process that mothers went through prior to deciding to consult.…”

Assessing the appropriateness of information on childhood fever in thermometer package leaflets: a systematic audit of thermometers available in the UK

“…18 It is not known to what extent parents currently use the information enclosed with commercially available thermometers, and whether they retain these information leaflets once they have purchased a new thermometer. From what is known in other areas of parent and patient education, however, easily accessible simple symptombased messages are regarded as an efficient way to deliver health information.…”

An illness-focused interactive booklet to optimise management and medication for childhood fever and infections in out-of-hours primary care: study protocol for a cluster randomised trial

“…Exploring the illness experience of parents of children with fever and infections may have potential because it specifically addresses the concerns and questions that parents have when their child is sick. Moreover, it may offer the GP a way to convey consistent written information, enhancing their self-management and providing them with ‘safety net’ advice when they return home with clear instructions in what case to return or seek contact again [12]. An illness-focused GP-parent information exchange tool consisting of an interactive booklet has the potential to provide parents with information about symptoms and fever management as well as consistent information during GP consultations [13, 14].…”