Exploring the Interactions Between Healthcare Professionals and Parents of Children With Feeding Problems: A Qualitative Study.
Jenny Harlid, Anneli Schwarz, Ellen Backman
PMID 42629997WHAT IT FOUND
Parents and clinicians described paediatric feeding care as a long, emotionally charged journey.
They said trust, shared understanding, early referral and continuity mattered; poor coordination made parents feel forced to advocate.
Key findings
01Parents and healthcare professionals described interactions as shaped by knowledge, communication and access to care.
02Trust and feeling heard depended on clear communication, realistic expectations and avoiding criticism of parents' feeding practices.
03Fragmented care, long waits and poor coordination made parents feel they had to push for support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed only a small purposive sample, so it may not capture all relevant experiences. All participants were Swedish-speaking and from one region, so the findings may not transfer to other cultures or healthcare systems. The data are participants' recalled perceptions from interviews, not direct observations of clinical encounters. The first author was a speech-language pathologist with clinical experience in feeding disorders, which may have shaped the questions and interpretation despite reflexivity and co-author review. Perspectives from some relevant professions, such as occupational therapists, were not included.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by a grant from the Department of Research, Education and Innovation at Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that family-centred care improves feeding outcomes. The study reports perceptions from a small group of Swedish participants in interviews, not a trial or observed clinical results.