Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study
Objectives Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant contributors to the burden of disease and remain a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of children in Australia. To address ACEs, we co-designed and implemented two integrated health and social care hubs (Child and Family Hubs...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086710.full |
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| author | Ashraful Kabir Harriet Hiscock Hueiming Liu Lingling Chen Rebecca Bosward Natalie White Sarah Loveday Wilhelmina Ebbett |
| author_facet | Ashraful Kabir Harriet Hiscock Hueiming Liu Lingling Chen Rebecca Bosward Natalie White Sarah Loveday Wilhelmina Ebbett |
| author_sort | Ashraful Kabir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant contributors to the burden of disease and remain a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of children in Australia. To address ACEs, we co-designed and implemented two integrated health and social care hubs (Child and Family Hubs [CFHs]). This study explores the experiences of caregivers who received care from the CFHs, including the way they were asked about ACEs and the services offered to address identified ACEs.Design A qualitative study design was used. Using a semistructured interview guide, 29 in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who were experiencing a range of adversities, including maltreatment and household dysfunction, child neglect, parent mental illness, domestic violence, family conflict, community dysfunction, discrimination, poverty or financial hardship. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse textual data. Triangulation of investigators and sources of data improved validation of the findings. NVivo (V.12) was used to organise, index and retrieve data.Settings This study was conducted in two Child and Family Hubs (CFHs) in Australia—IPC Health, Wyndham Vale, Melbourne, and Marrickville Health Centre, Sydney, between May and October 2023.Participants Participants (n=29) were the caregivers of children living with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).Results Four themes were identified which reflected the caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adversities and how they linked to the support and services both in the CFHs and outside the CFH. These themes were as follows: (i) trusting relationships are fundamental; (ii) expectations play a role in talking about adversities; (iii) barriers to open discussion of adversities and (iv) barriers to accessing services.Conclusions Consultations between caregivers and hub practitioners can effectively identify and address ACEs despite certain barriers. Establishing a trusting relationship where caregivers feel heard and supported is vital, highlighting the hub model’s potential impact in Australia and similar contexts. Enhancing consultation duration, and service availability and accessibility may further improve caregivers’ experiences in identifying and addressing adversity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-14ab22fb262844d48b38098da5bfda00 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-14ab22fb262844d48b38098da5bfda002025-02-06T03:10:16ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-02-0115210.1136/bmjopen-2024-086710Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative studyAshraful Kabir0Harriet Hiscock1Hueiming Liu2Lingling Chen3Rebecca Bosward4Natalie White5Sarah Loveday6Wilhelmina Ebbett7Health Services, Murdoch Children`s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaHealth Services, Murdoch Children`s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaThe George Institute for Global Health, Camperdown, Sydney, AustraliaHealth Services, Murdoch Children`s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaSydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaHealth Services, Murdoch Children`s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaHealth Services, Murdoch Children`s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaSydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaObjectives Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant contributors to the burden of disease and remain a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of children in Australia. To address ACEs, we co-designed and implemented two integrated health and social care hubs (Child and Family Hubs [CFHs]). This study explores the experiences of caregivers who received care from the CFHs, including the way they were asked about ACEs and the services offered to address identified ACEs.Design A qualitative study design was used. Using a semistructured interview guide, 29 in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who were experiencing a range of adversities, including maltreatment and household dysfunction, child neglect, parent mental illness, domestic violence, family conflict, community dysfunction, discrimination, poverty or financial hardship. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse textual data. Triangulation of investigators and sources of data improved validation of the findings. NVivo (V.12) was used to organise, index and retrieve data.Settings This study was conducted in two Child and Family Hubs (CFHs) in Australia—IPC Health, Wyndham Vale, Melbourne, and Marrickville Health Centre, Sydney, between May and October 2023.Participants Participants (n=29) were the caregivers of children living with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).Results Four themes were identified which reflected the caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adversities and how they linked to the support and services both in the CFHs and outside the CFH. These themes were as follows: (i) trusting relationships are fundamental; (ii) expectations play a role in talking about adversities; (iii) barriers to open discussion of adversities and (iv) barriers to accessing services.Conclusions Consultations between caregivers and hub practitioners can effectively identify and address ACEs despite certain barriers. Establishing a trusting relationship where caregivers feel heard and supported is vital, highlighting the hub model’s potential impact in Australia and similar contexts. Enhancing consultation duration, and service availability and accessibility may further improve caregivers’ experiences in identifying and addressing adversity.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086710.full |
| spellingShingle | Ashraful Kabir Harriet Hiscock Hueiming Liu Lingling Chen Rebecca Bosward Natalie White Sarah Loveday Wilhelmina Ebbett Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study BMJ Open |
| title | Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Caregivers’ experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | caregivers experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub a qualitative study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e086710.full |
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