The perspectives of parents, general practitioners, and community pharmacists about treating an ill child in primary care: a comparative study.

Abstract

As children are unable to make health-related decisions themselves, parents play a central role in consultations with healthcare providers. Parents' perspectives are therefore the focus of this study. Our first aim was to determine parents' expectations of a healthcare visit with a general practitioner and a community pharmacist. The second aim was to determine the general practitioners' and community pharmacists' perspectives about consultations with children. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in April and May 2018. We developed three questionnaires: one for parents, one for general practitioners, and one for community pharmacists. The questionnaire for parents was only available through an online platform. The healthcare providers were questioned face-to-face and through an online platform. The study included 380 respondents. Parents considered prescribing or proposing medication the least important action by a general practitioner or community pharmacist, respectively. As well, parents expect information in most cases from both healthcare providers. The questionnaire for general practitioners and community pharmacists revealed that prescribing or proposing medication was regarded the least important action.Conclusion: Considering parents' expectations for a consultation with a general practitioner or community pharmacist, there is a substantial resemblance with the healthcare providers' perspective.What is Known:• The previous studies focusing on parents' perspectives were carried out in a hospital setting or focused on a specific disorder.• Parents consider reassurance and advice from their general practitioner to be very important; the treatment is considered less important.What is New:• Parents considered for both general practitioners' and community pharmacists' verbal information, answers to their questions, and reassurance as more important than receiving pharmacological treatment, while general practitioners and community pharmacists consider prescribing/proposing medication and providing written information as less important.• The expectations of the different groups (parents in relation to not only the healthcare providers but also the general practitioners and community pharmacists compared to each other) know a great resemblance.