"Will anybody listen?" parents' views on childhood asthma care: a qualitative study.
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Authors
Warren, Kate
Issue Date
2024-05-28
Type
Article
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Keywords
Asthma
Child health
Interviews
Parental education
Parents views
Peer-reviewed article
Qualitative research
Socialeconomic deprivation
Thematic analysis
Child health
Interviews
Parental education
Parents views
Peer-reviewed article
Qualitative research
Socialeconomic deprivation
Thematic analysis
Journal
BJGP Open
Volume
Issue
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, resulting in considerable morbidity and health care utilisation, especially in geographical areas with high deprivation. Parents play a pivotal role in children's asthma management.
Aim: To explore the views of parents whose children have asthma, regarding barriers and facilitators to receiving adequate asthma care.
Design & setting: A qualitative study conducted in an urban, multi-ethnic setting with high socioeconomic deprivation and paediatric asthma related hospital admissions.
Method: The study used a pragmatic approach underpinned by a perspective of critical realism. Parents of children with asthma were recruited through purposive and convenience sampling and data collected through semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, facilitated by NVivo software.
Results: 10 parents participated in nine interviews. Six themes were identified relating to: (1) the establishment of a new life dynamic following a diagnosis of asthma; (2) the turbulent and drawn-out process of asthma diagnosis; (3) the roles and expectations of the partnership established between parents and healthcare services; (4) the importance of schools in asthma management; (5) sources and access to relevant information; and (6) the importance of social support networks. Parents frequently felt unsupported and misunderstood, particularly during the diagnostic process.
Conclusion: Unmet parental educational and emotional needs, particularly around the time of diagnosis were identified as a key barrier to adequate asthma management. Deeper understanding of gaps in support can instruct asthma care delivery and inform co-produced interventions, thus improving asthma outcomes in children.
Citation
Lange D, Lindenmeyer A, Warren K, Haroon S, Nagakumar P. "Will anybody listen?" parents' views on childhood asthma care: a qualitative study. BJGP Open. 2024 May 28:BJGPO.2024.0070. doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0070. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38806215.