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Parental help-seeking behaviour for, and care of, a sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic: a European online survey

Tan, Chantal D ; Bressan, Silvia ; Carter, Rachel ; Hylén, Mia LU ; Kristensson Hallström, Inger LU ; Lakhanpaul, Monica ; Mintegi, Santiago ; Moll, Henriette A and Neill, Sarah (2023) In BMC Health Services Research 23.
Abstract
Background
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on patients and healthcare systems. A decline in paediatric visits to healthcare settings was observed, which might have been due to lower incidence of injury and infectious illness, changes in healthcare services and parental concern. The aim of our study was to examine parental experiences of help-seeking for, and care of, a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place.

Methods
An online survey for parents with a child with any kind or illness of injury during COVID-19 lockdowns was circulated through social media in five European countries: Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands,... (More)
Background
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on patients and healthcare systems. A decline in paediatric visits to healthcare settings was observed, which might have been due to lower incidence of injury and infectious illness, changes in healthcare services and parental concern. The aim of our study was to examine parental experiences of help-seeking for, and care of, a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place.

Methods
An online survey for parents with a child with any kind or illness of injury during COVID-19 lockdowns was circulated through social media in five European countries: Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Parents living in one of these countries with self-identification of a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods were eligible to fill in the survey. Descriptive statistics were used for the level of restrictions per country, children’s characteristics, family characteristics and reported help-seeking behaviour of parents prior to the lockdown and their real experience during the lockdown. The free text data was subjected to thematic analysis.

Results
The survey was fully completed by 598 parents, ranging from 50 to 198 parents per country, during varying lockdown periods from March 2020 until May 2022. Parents who completed the survey were not deterred from seeking medical help for their sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding was comparable in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place. Thematic analysis identified three main areas: parental experiences of access to healthcare, changes in parents’ help-seeking behaviours for a sick or injured child during lockdowns, and the impact of caring for a sick or injured child during the lockdowns. Parents reported limited access to non-urgent care services and were anxious about either their child or themselves catching COVID-19.

Conclusion
This insight into parental perspectives of help-seeking behaviour and care for a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdowns could inform future strategies to improve access to healthcare, and to provide parents with adequate information concerning when and where to seek help and support during pandemics. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Health Services Research
volume
23
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:37095499
  • scopus:85153687171
ISSN
1472-6963
DOI
10.1186/s12913-023-09371-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac59786b-afdb-4361-97c3-9612ec53e241
date added to LUP
2023-05-08 14:15:58
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:25:33
@article{ac59786b-afdb-4361-97c3-9612ec53e241,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on patients and healthcare systems. A decline in paediatric visits to healthcare settings was observed, which might have been due to lower incidence of injury and infectious illness, changes in healthcare services and parental concern. The aim of our study was to examine parental experiences of help-seeking for, and care of, a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>An online survey for parents with a child with any kind or illness of injury during COVID-19 lockdowns was circulated through social media in five European countries: Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Parents living in one of these countries with self-identification of a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods were eligible to fill in the survey. Descriptive statistics were used for the level of restrictions per country, children’s characteristics, family characteristics and reported help-seeking behaviour of parents prior to the lockdown and their real experience during the lockdown. The free text data was subjected to thematic analysis.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The survey was fully completed by 598 parents, ranging from 50 to 198 parents per country, during varying lockdown periods from March 2020 until May 2022. Parents who completed the survey were not deterred from seeking medical help for their sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding was comparable in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place. Thematic analysis identified three main areas: parental experiences of access to healthcare, changes in parents’ help-seeking behaviours for a sick or injured child during lockdowns, and the impact of caring for a sick or injured child during the lockdowns. Parents reported limited access to non-urgent care services and were anxious about either their child or themselves catching COVID-19.<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>This insight into parental perspectives of help-seeking behaviour and care for a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdowns could inform future strategies to improve access to healthcare, and to provide parents with adequate information concerning when and where to seek help and support during pandemics.}},
  author       = {{Tan, Chantal D and Bressan, Silvia and Carter, Rachel and Hylén, Mia and Kristensson Hallström, Inger and Lakhanpaul, Monica and Mintegi, Santiago and Moll, Henriette A and Neill, Sarah}},
  issn         = {{1472-6963}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Health Services Research}},
  title        = {{Parental help-seeking behaviour for, and care of, a sick or injured child during the COVID-19 pandemic: a European online survey}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09371-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12913-023-09371-1}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}