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Exploring parental perceptions of psychosocial screening in paediatric emergency departments.
- Source :
- Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry; Oct2022, Vol. 27 Issue 4, p1277-1287, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: To explore parental perceptions of psychosocial screening in the paediatric emergency department and identify post-screening barriers to accessing mental health care. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study during the 30-day follow-up period of a larger prospective cohort study. Eligible youth and their accompanying parent/guardian first completed psychosocial self/proxy-screening using the MyHEARTSMAP tool and then received a standardized clinical mental health assessment. If the MyHEARTSMAP assessment provided youth with mental health resources recommendations, their parents were invited to a follow-up session. Thirty days (±5 days) after their ED visit, parents participated in a virtual interview to reflect and share their attitudes, perceptions and thoughts around the screening and mental health care-seeking process. Results: Of the 171 participants who received resource recommendations during their ED visit, 124 parents (72.5%; 95% CI 65.2–79.1%) completed the follow-up interview. Most parents endorsed positive perceptions of the screening process, describing it as an 'eye-opening' process that 'sparked conversation'. Most participants (74.2%; 95% CI 65.6–81.6) agreed with the resource recommendations they received. In terms of resources-seeking, only 41 participants (33.1%; 95% CI 24.9–42.1) attempted to access recommended supports. Families generally felt identified concerns were mild and 'not serious enough' to warrant resource-seeking, though many expressed an intention to seek care if concerns escalated. Conclusion: Perceptions of psychosocial screening in the ED were favourable and encouraging among participating parents of youth screened positive for psychosocial issues. Despite positive attitudes, only a fraction of the families invited to follow-up attempted to access care. Mental health may be perceived as low priority for many families, signifying the need for improved education and awareness building on the importance of early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- MENTAL health services evaluation
PARENT attitudes
MATERNAL health services
PATIENT aftercare
PSYCHOLOGY of parents
HOSPITAL emergency services
HEALTH services accessibility
CONFIDENCE intervals
PEDIATRICS
MEDICAL screening
HELP-seeking behavior
QUALITATIVE research
MEDICAL care use
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
LONGITUDINAL method
OPTIMISM
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13591045
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 159693396
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045211070922