Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews
Abstract Background Safety netting advice (SNA) is an essential component of the management of acutely ill children in ambulatory care. However, healthcare professionals use a variety of SNA methods, leading to inconsistencies within and across organisations. Much research has explored the perspecti...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02803-3 |
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| author | Ruben Burvenich Stefan Heytens David A.G. Bos Kaatje Van Roy Thomas Struyf Jaan Toelen An De Sutter Jan Y. Verbakel |
| author_facet | Ruben Burvenich Stefan Heytens David A.G. Bos Kaatje Van Roy Thomas Struyf Jaan Toelen An De Sutter Jan Y. Verbakel |
| author_sort | Ruben Burvenich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Safety netting advice (SNA) is an essential component of the management of acutely ill children in ambulatory care. However, healthcare professionals use a variety of SNA methods, leading to inconsistencies within and across organisations. Much research has explored the perspective on SNA of parents from the UK, but such research is lacking outside the UK context. Methods We conducted focus groups with Belgian parents of children 6 months to 12 years old, who were recruited through maximum variation sampling. We transcribed the interviews verbatim. Using a combination of inductive and deductive ‘in vivo’ coding we developed themes from the data. As per the Grounded Theory approach, we reiterated between data collection, coding, and analysis. After participant validation of provisional themes, we constructed the final thematic framework. Results Through six focus groups with 30 parents, we identified five themes: (1) Relevant background information; (2) To know what to expect, what to look out for; (3) Instructions on child homecare and when to revisit a physician; (4) Physicians who consider parents’ perspectives and contexts; (5) A reliable source that provides SNA only when necessary, possibly in a multimodal way. Conclusions We identified five themes from Belgian parents’ views on SNA, aligning with prior UK research. These findings form an evidence base for developing a consensus statement on the content and form of SNA supported by both parents and experts from high-income countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c58d7c288394761b74f9c511bcb17e3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c58d7c288394761b74f9c511bcb17e32025-08-20T01:47:29ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532025-04-0126111110.1186/s12875-025-02803-3Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviewsRuben Burvenich0Stefan Heytens1David A.G. Bos2Kaatje Van Roy3Thomas Struyf4Jaan Toelen5An De Sutter6Jan Y. Verbakel7Leuven Unit for Health Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU LeuvenDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Ghent UniversityLeuven Unit for Health Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU LeuvenDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Ghent UniversityLeuven Unit for Health Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU LeuvenLeuven Child and Youth Institute, KU LeuvenDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Ghent UniversityLeuven Unit for Health Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU LeuvenAbstract Background Safety netting advice (SNA) is an essential component of the management of acutely ill children in ambulatory care. However, healthcare professionals use a variety of SNA methods, leading to inconsistencies within and across organisations. Much research has explored the perspective on SNA of parents from the UK, but such research is lacking outside the UK context. Methods We conducted focus groups with Belgian parents of children 6 months to 12 years old, who were recruited through maximum variation sampling. We transcribed the interviews verbatim. Using a combination of inductive and deductive ‘in vivo’ coding we developed themes from the data. As per the Grounded Theory approach, we reiterated between data collection, coding, and analysis. After participant validation of provisional themes, we constructed the final thematic framework. Results Through six focus groups with 30 parents, we identified five themes: (1) Relevant background information; (2) To know what to expect, what to look out for; (3) Instructions on child homecare and when to revisit a physician; (4) Physicians who consider parents’ perspectives and contexts; (5) A reliable source that provides SNA only when necessary, possibly in a multimodal way. Conclusions We identified five themes from Belgian parents’ views on SNA, aligning with prior UK research. These findings form an evidence base for developing a consensus statement on the content and form of SNA supported by both parents and experts from high-income countries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02803-3Primary Health CareAmbulatory CareGeneral PracticePaediatricsQualitative ResearchFocus Groups |
| spellingShingle | Ruben Burvenich Stefan Heytens David A.G. Bos Kaatje Van Roy Thomas Struyf Jaan Toelen An De Sutter Jan Y. Verbakel Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews BMC Primary Care Primary Health Care Ambulatory Care General Practice Paediatrics Qualitative Research Focus Groups |
| title | Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews |
| title_full | Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews |
| title_fullStr | Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews |
| title_short | Safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care: exploring parents’ opinions, ideas, and expectations through focus group interviews |
| title_sort | safety netting advice for acutely ill children presenting to ambulatory care exploring parents opinions ideas and expectations through focus group interviews |
| topic | Primary Health Care Ambulatory Care General Practice Paediatrics Qualitative Research Focus Groups |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02803-3 |
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