Parental Perceptions of Early Childhood Research with In-Home Monitoring: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

BackgroundDespite growing interest in novel approaches to measure home environmental effects on the developing child (the exposome), parental perceptions remain poorly understood. Parents’ perspectives are important for building trust, assessing feasibility, and increasing participation in research that includes home monitoring technologies. We aimed to explore parents’ perceptions regarding these topics.MethodsA diverse group of new and expecting mothers participated in semi-structured interviews. A single interviewer conducted all sessions and introduced a hypothetical longitudinal observational early childhood home-based research study including novel home monitoring approaches: 1) wearable devices, 2) audio monitoring, and 3) environmental sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. A constant comparative approach identified themes from transcripts.ResultsTwenty-four interviews were completed. Emerging themes included 1) Positive Perceptions; 2) Incentives; 3) Transparency and Purpose; 4) Privacy and Safety Concerns; and 5) Logistics and Feasibility. Perceptions were similar across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Overall perceptions were positive with several central motivators for hypothetical participation. Participants desired additional information related to feasibility and the purpose of studies. Many had concerns related to wearable device safety and data privacy; a trusting relationship with the research team was a priority.ConclusionMany participants had positive sentiments regarding longitudinal observational studies involving pregnancy and infancy with various incentives, yet they expressed concerns about safety, privacy, feasibility, and transparency. These findings can inform future perinatal and early childhood research study design, particularly those that novel home monitoring approaches, to ensure protocols and communication are transparent, inclusive, and appealing to parents.