Working with parents of children with complex mental health issues to improve care: A qualitative inquiry.
Brenda My Leung, Cynthia Wandler, Tamara Pringsheim and 1 others
PMID 34180250WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children with complex mental health needs described fragmented services, long waits, poor information and stigma.
They asked for coordinated care with a navigator and direct communication among providers, schools and community services.
Key findings
01The interviews generated three main themes: fragmented healthcare services, navigating the complex healthcare system, and parents distressed by the system.
02Parents reported poor communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals, schools and community services, and difficulty finding accurate information about resources and treatment.
03Parents proposed coordinated care through a central team approach and a navigator or case manager to reduce fragmented referrals and support continuity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed 16 parents, mostly mothers, and 36 parents expressed interest, so the sample was small and not all interested families were interviewed. Reasons for not interviewing included not returning calls or emails, incomplete screening, loss of interest and no consent, which may make the sample self-selected. The authors state that parents mainly focused on challenges and negative experiences, so families with positive experiences may be under-represented. The study was conducted in Alberta, Canada, and required English fluency, so findings may not transfer to other jurisdictions or families who speak other languages. It reports parents' experiences and suggestions, not outcomes of the proposed navigator or coordinated care model.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the Maternal, Newborn, Child & Youth Strategic Clinical Network Health Outcomes Improvement Fund.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the parents' proposed navigator and coordinated care model as evidence that it works. This study reported experiences and suggestions, not tested interventions.