A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives
Abstract Background There is limited literature in paediatric rheumatology describing holistic lived experiences of medical treatment from perspectives of children and young people (CYP) and their parents or carers (PC). This is important as it could have implications for adherence. This study aimed...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-025-01063-w |
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| author | Kassie Gracella Putri Sunil Sampath Charlotte Lucy Richardson Alice McCloskey Adam Pattison Rathbone |
| author_facet | Kassie Gracella Putri Sunil Sampath Charlotte Lucy Richardson Alice McCloskey Adam Pattison Rathbone |
| author_sort | Kassie Gracella Putri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is limited literature in paediatric rheumatology describing holistic lived experiences of medical treatment from perspectives of children and young people (CYP) and their parents or carers (PC). This is important as it could have implications for adherence. This study aimed to explore treatment experiences of CYP and PC in a paediatric rheumatology service. Methods Participants were recruited at a day-case unit for intravenous infusions at a tertiary paediatric rheumatology centre. Joint qualitative semi-structured interviews with CYP and PC were used to collect data. Data were transcribed, quality checked and thematically analysed using NVivo 12.4 to identify findings. Results Thirty-two participants (15 CYP between the ages of 6 and 16 years, 17 PC) took part in interviews lasting 41 min and 43 s, on average. Participants described experiences using infliximab, followed by tocilizumab and abatacept. Participants experienced a wave, oscillating between positive and negative trajectories. Experiences of medical treatments were described as temporary, eventually changing and leading to treatment changes or cessation. Behaviours were influenced through somatic factors (pain, function), social factors (advice from health professionals, encouragement from friends, family and teachers, practicality of using treatment in relation to school, work and finance) and cognitive factors (fear of needles, fear of specific medications, beliefs about necessity). Conclusions Collectively, findings demonstrate experiences of medical treatment reflect the nature of many paediatric rheumatology conditions, oscillating between periods of positive and negative trajectories. Somatic, social and cognitive experiences can be positive, when treatment is considered ‘successful’. Negative somatic, social or cognitive experiences led to behaviours such as treatment non-adherence. A limitation of the study is interviews were conducted jointly with CYP and PC, which may have influenced what participants were willing to say in front of one another however this does mean findings relate to both CYP and PC and so could be suitable targets for interventions to improve adherence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85da14bf968d4eb2b89bd80f47623ee1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1546-0096 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-85da14bf968d4eb2b89bd80f47623ee12025-01-26T12:19:57ZengBMCPediatric Rheumatology Online Journal1546-00962025-01-0123111210.1186/s12969-025-01063-wA qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectivesKassie Gracella Putri0Sunil Sampath1Charlotte Lucy Richardson2Alice McCloskey3Adam Pattison Rathbone4School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle UniversityGreat North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation TrustSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle UniversityFaculty of Science, Liverpool John Moore’s UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle UniversityAbstract Background There is limited literature in paediatric rheumatology describing holistic lived experiences of medical treatment from perspectives of children and young people (CYP) and their parents or carers (PC). This is important as it could have implications for adherence. This study aimed to explore treatment experiences of CYP and PC in a paediatric rheumatology service. Methods Participants were recruited at a day-case unit for intravenous infusions at a tertiary paediatric rheumatology centre. Joint qualitative semi-structured interviews with CYP and PC were used to collect data. Data were transcribed, quality checked and thematically analysed using NVivo 12.4 to identify findings. Results Thirty-two participants (15 CYP between the ages of 6 and 16 years, 17 PC) took part in interviews lasting 41 min and 43 s, on average. Participants described experiences using infliximab, followed by tocilizumab and abatacept. Participants experienced a wave, oscillating between positive and negative trajectories. Experiences of medical treatments were described as temporary, eventually changing and leading to treatment changes or cessation. Behaviours were influenced through somatic factors (pain, function), social factors (advice from health professionals, encouragement from friends, family and teachers, practicality of using treatment in relation to school, work and finance) and cognitive factors (fear of needles, fear of specific medications, beliefs about necessity). Conclusions Collectively, findings demonstrate experiences of medical treatment reflect the nature of many paediatric rheumatology conditions, oscillating between periods of positive and negative trajectories. Somatic, social and cognitive experiences can be positive, when treatment is considered ‘successful’. Negative somatic, social or cognitive experiences led to behaviours such as treatment non-adherence. A limitation of the study is interviews were conducted jointly with CYP and PC, which may have influenced what participants were willing to say in front of one another however this does mean findings relate to both CYP and PC and so could be suitable targets for interventions to improve adherence.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-025-01063-wQualitative researchTreatment adherencePatient lived experiencesMedicines useChildren and young peopleCarer experiences |
| spellingShingle | Kassie Gracella Putri Sunil Sampath Charlotte Lucy Richardson Alice McCloskey Adam Pattison Rathbone A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal Qualitative research Treatment adherence Patient lived experiences Medicines use Children and young people Carer experiences |
| title | A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives |
| title_full | A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives |
| title_short | A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives |
| title_sort | qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology children s young people s parents and carers perspectives |
| topic | Qualitative research Treatment adherence Patient lived experiences Medicines use Children and young people Carer experiences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-025-01063-w |
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