Factors that influence family and parental preferences and decision making for unscheduled paediatric healthcare: a systematic review protocol

Introduction Health systems offer access to unscheduled care through numerous routes; however, it is typically provided by general practitioners (GPs), by emergency medicine doctors in in emergency departments (EDs) and by GPs in out-of-hours GP services such as practitioner cooperatives. Unscheduled healthcare constitutes a substantial portion of healthcare delivery. A systematic review was conducted to establish the factors that influence parents’ decision making when seeking unscheduled healthcare for their children. The systematic review question was “ What are the factors that influence the decision making of parents and families seeking unscheduled paediatric healthcare?” Method Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycInfo, EconLit) and four grey literature databases (Proquest, Lenus, OpenGrey, Google Scholar) were searched. The titles and abstracts of 3746 articles were screened and full-text screening was performed on 177 of these articles. Fifty-six papers were selected for inclusion in the review. Data relating to different types of unscheduled health services (namely primary care, the emergency department and out-of-hours services) were extracted from these articles. A narrative approach was used to synthesise the extracted data. Results Several factors were identified as influencing parental preferences and decision making when seeking unscheduled healthcare for their children. A number of the included studies identified pre-disposing factors such as race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) as impacting the healthcare-seeking behaviour of parents. Unscheduled healthcare use was often initiated by the parent’s perception that the child’s condition was urgent and their need for reassurance. The choice of unscheduled service was influenced by a myriad of factors such as: waiting times, availability of GP appointments, location of the ED, and the relationship that the parent or caregiver had with their GP. Conclusion Policy and planning initiatives do not always reflect how patients negotiate the health system as a single entity with numerous entry points. Altering patients’ behaviour through public health initiatives that seek to improve, for instance, health literacy or reducing emergency hospital admissions through preventative primary care requires an understanding of the relative importance of factors that influence behaviour and decision making, and the interactions between these factors.

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“…The protocol for this systematic review was published on HRB Open Research [20] and was also registered on PROSPERO (ref: CRD42019129343).…”

Section: Protocol and Registrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors that influence family and parental preferences and decision making for unscheduled paediatric healthcare – systematic review

Nicholson

McDonnell

Brún

et al. 2020

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…The second stage of screening results will be carried out independently by two researchers using a data charting form ( Levac et al , 2010 ; Peters et al , 2020 ). A sample chart for collecting the data, which is adapted from the Cochrane collection template and informed by Nicholson et al (2019) , will be utilised as a part of the scoping review. Examples of data to be noted or extracted will include country, number of participants, qualitative methodology and methodological rigour.…”

Section: Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children as innovators: harnessing the creative expertise of children to address practical and psychosocial challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – COVISION study protocol

et al. 2022

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Background: We are currently in a period of transition, from the pre-COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) era and the initial reactive lockdowns, to now the ongoing living with and potentially the after COVID-19 period. Each country is at its own individual stage of this transition, but many have gone through a period of feeling adrift; disconnected from normal lives, habits and routines, finding oneself betwixt and between stages, similar to that of liminality. Children and young people have been particularly affected. Aim: To increase the understanding of home and community-based strategies that contribute to children and young people’s capacity to adjust to societal changes, both during and after pandemics. Moreover, to identify ways in which children’s actions contribute to the capacity of others to adjust to the changes arising from the pandemic. The potential for these activities to influence and contribute to broader social mobilisation will be examined and promoted. Research design: To achieve the aim of this study, a participatory health research approach will be taken. The overarching theoretical framework of the COVISION study is that of liminality. The study design includes four work packages: two syntheses of literature (a rapid realist review and scoping review) to gain an overview of the emerging international context of evidence of psychosocial mitigations and community resilience in pandemics, and more specifically COVID-19; qualitative exploration of children and young people’s perspective of COVID-19 via creative outlets and reflections; and participatory learning and action through co-production.

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Animal assisted activities in the children's hospital: protocol for a scoping review

et al. 2020

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The introduction of animal interventions in healthcare are relatively common; however, their actual effectiveness and longer term findings are not so well known or published, especially in relation to the children’s hospital setting. It is important to plot where and why animal interventions take place but also to focus on how the human animal bond impacts on children, their parents and staff in a children’s hospital setting. Family members, including companion animals, are important supports which help children to relax and give them a sense of familiarity to navigate the busy and stressful hospital environment. The scoping review of the literature proposed will explore the scientific evidence for animal assisted activities (AAA) in children’s hospitals and will map results prior to undertaking a full scale research project. Arksey and O’Malley’s framework guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute will frame this review protocol. Appendices are used to ensure transparency of methods. The protocol is presented in narrative style to demonstrate flow and fluency and appeal to wider readership.

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Factors that influence family and parental preferences and decision making for unscheduled paediatric healthcare: a systematic review protocol

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

Factors that influence family and parental preferences and decision making for unscheduled paediatric healthcare – systematic review

Factors that influence family and parental preferences and decision making for unscheduled paediatric healthcare – systematic review

Children as innovators: harnessing the creative expertise of children to address practical and psychosocial challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – COVISION study protocol

Animal assisted activities in the children's hospital: protocol for a scoping review

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