Parents' information needs and preferences related to bronchiolitis: a qualitative study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis affects more than one-third of children less than age 2 years and can cause substantial anxiety for parents, leading them to seek information on how to care for their sick child. The aim of our qualitative study was to explore the information needs and preferences of parents caring for a child with bronchiolitis. METHODS: We used a qualitative descriptive approach. Participants were recruited by means of purposive sampling from Oct. 1, 2017, to Mar. 15, 2018 from the Stollery Children's Hospital emergency department, a specialized pediatric emergency department in Edmonton. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: Fifty-three parents were recruited to participate, of whom 30 could not be reached after 4 contact attempts and 8 refused. Thus, 15 parents participated (16 children). Three major themes were identified: 1) parents' information needs about bronchiolitis, 2) parents' preferred information sources and 3) parents' preferred information delivery formats. Participants indicated that they want and require credible, easy-to-understand information about bronchiolitis in a variety of formats, and especially valued information obtained directly from a health care professional or an evidence-based website. INTERPRETATION: This study provides important information about parents' information needs concerning bronchiolitis in children. Identifying the information that parents want and value in relation to acute pediatric illnesses is imperative to developing innovative educational approaches for parents that reflect patient-centred care.