Round table: Applying multidisciplinary sciences to improve paediatric primary care for children in Europe

Abstract

Abstract Considerable progress has been made in improving child health and well-being in Europe over the past 40 years, with great reductions in neonatal, and child deaths, and in deaths from causes such as vaccine-preventable diseases. Paediatric primary care (PPC) has significantly contributed to these advances. However, there are still differences between and within countries regarding the content and organizations of primary care for children that might have an impact on important aspects such as access and availability of primary care. These cross-country and within-country differences together with current and future challenges in child health care, such as increasing prevalence of chronic and long-term conditions, fragmentation of care and shortage of health personnel, pose a complex challenge for European countries. Working towards an approach to tackle these challenges requires the vision, input and collaboration of multidisciplinary sciences. In this workshop four perspectives are brought together with the goal to learn from each other’s experiences and to establish a common knowledge base on how to collaborate between different disciplines and sciences to bring PPC to a next level. The first presentation will be from a public health perspective and is about the comparison of actual and desired organization and content of adolescent health services. The second presentation will be a paediatrician’s perspective and stresses the importance of an adequately trained paediatric workforce. The third presentation will be from a sociological perspective and focuses on the societal scale drivers framing health among children and their families. In the final presentation a philosophical perspective will be given on adherence to therapy, resilience and resonance in the treatment triangle of ‘patient-family-therapist’. The presentations will be followed by a round table discussion in which the audience will be involved: the presenters will answer questions and discuss with the audience how we should create better and sustainable PCP by making use of multiple disciplines and sciences. Key messages Differences between and within countries regarding the content and organizations of primary care for children might have an impact on important aspects such as access and availability of primary care. Working towards an approach to tackle challenges in paediatric primary care requires the vision, input and collaboration of multidisciplinary sciences.