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The influence of perceived accessibility and expertise of healthcare professionals, and service austerity, on mothers' decision‐making.
- Source :
- Health & Social Care in the Community; Mar2021, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p526-534, 9p, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Mothers often make key decisions regarding their children's health. They hold core beliefs and attitudes towards healthcare providers, relying on healthcare services to provide support, advice and reassurance. It is crucial that health providers form authentic relationships with families with young children, in order to effectively provide healthcare, support and information as needed. In this paper, we explore mothers' views on the accessibility and expertise of healthcare professionals caring for their child's health. A case study, using a geographic post code as the case boundary was used. Focus groups and semi‐structured interviews with mothers of children aged under five years old were conducted. Participants (n = 33) were recruited from local playgroups and six focus groups (19 participants) and 14 individual interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. General Practice (including general practitioners [GPs] and practice nurses) was considered to be the preferred option when seeking timely healthcare advice and information. Participant mothers were open to accessing professional advice concerning their child's health, from a range of health professionals and understood the role and potential contribution of various health professionals. However, some factors, influenced mothers' decision‐making. These were captured in three themes: maternal perceptions of GPs as accessible experts; practice nurses as approachable and reassuring sources of advice; and difficulty in accessing health visiting services primarily due to service funding cuts. Further investment in primary care services, including expansion of the practice nurse role and an increase in health visiting service provision, may help to provide sufficient support for mothers seeking healthcare advice. In addition, healthcare service strategies, which engage with mothers and ensure nurses are recognised as knowledgeable, accessible, supportive and a suitable alternative to GPs, would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- WORK experience (Employment)
HEALTH education
OCCUPATIONAL roles
INVESTMENTS
HEALTH services accessibility
CHILD care
ATTITUDES of mothers
RESEARCH methodology
FAMILY medicine
HOME care services
MEDICAL personnel
INTERVIEWING
MEDICAL office nursing
COMMUNITY health services
PATIENTS' families
QUALITATIVE research
PRIMARY health care
CHILDREN'S health
CLINICAL competence
HEALTH attitudes
DECISION making
RESEARCH funding
HEALTH
INFORMATION resources
ACCESS to information
NURSES
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
THEMATIC analysis
ENDOWMENTS
STATISTICAL sampling
METROPOLITAN areas
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09660410
- Volume :
- 29
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Health & Social Care in the Community
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 149170713
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13115