Adapting a Parental Support App to Promote Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors (MINISTOP) for a Multi-Ethnic Setting: A Qualitative Study on the Needs and Preferences of Parents and Nurses within Swedish Child Health Care.
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SUBMITTER: Alexandrou C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8308428 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundPreventive and scalable interventions, accessible to all, to counteract childhood obesity are urgently needed. We have recently developed a novel, digital parental intervention (MINISTOP 2.0 app) available in Swedish, Somali, Arabic and English. We have previously reported its positive effects on children's health behaviors and on parental self-efficacy. However, before introducing the app at scale in primary child healthcare, implementation aspects also need to be explored.AimThis study aims to explore and describe user experiences as well as acceptability and feasibility of the MINISTOP 2.0 app-based intervention in a diverse group of parents (end-users) and Swedish child healthcare nurses (implementers).MethodsIndividual interviews were conducted with Swedish- (n = 9), Somali- (n = 9), Arabic- (n = 5) and English-speaking (n = 1) parents as well as Swedish primary child healthcare nurses (n = 15). Data was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive latent approach.ResultsParents described how the app facilitated behavior change through increased awareness regarding current diet and physical activity behaviors. Furthermore, the evidence-based app content further facilitated trust and behavior change. Both parents and nurses acknowledged the app's preventive potential and the potential for reaching parents with diverse backgrounds or in need of extra support.ConclusionThe MINISTOP 2.0 app was perceived as a useful tool for health promotion both by parents and healthcare professionals, especially since it was adapted to several languages. These findings coupled with the previously shown beneficial effects on health behaviors support the large-scale implementation of the app in primary child healthcare.
| S-EPMC10521279 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundParents play an influential role in the health behaviors of their children, such as physical activity, dietary intake, sleep, screen time, and substance use. However, further research is needed to inform the development of more effective and engaging parent-based interventions targeting adolescent risk behaviors.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess parents' knowledge about adolescent risk behaviors, barriers and facilitators to engaging in healthy behaviors, and preferences for a parent-based prevention intervention.MethodsAn anonymous web-based survey was conducted from June 2022 to August 2022. Eligible participants were parents of children aged 11 to 18 years and were residing in Australia at the time of this study. The survey assessed the parents' perceived and actual knowledge about Australian health guidelines for youth, parent and adolescent engagement in health behaviors, parenting style and attitudes, barriers and facilitators to engaging in healthy behaviors, and delivery and component preferences for a parent-based preventive intervention. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were conducted to analyze the data.ResultsA total of 179 eligible participants completed the survey. The mean age of the parents was 42.22 (SD 7.03) years, and 63.1% (101/160) were female. Parent-reported sleep duration was high for both parents (mean 8.31, SD 1.00 hours) and adolescents (mean 9.18, SD 0.94 hours). However, the proportion of parents who reported that their child met the national recommendations for physical activity (5/149, 3.4%), vegetable intake (7/126, 5.6%), and weekend recreational screen time (7/130, 5.4%) was very low. Overall, parents' perceived knowledge of health guidelines was moderate, ranging from 50.6% (80/158) for screen time to 72.8% (115/158) for sleep guidelines (for children aged 5-13 years). Actual knowledge was lowest for vegetable intake and physical activity, with only 44.2% (46/104) and 42% (31/74) of parents reporting correct guidelines for these behaviors, respectively. The key issues of concern reported by parents were excessive use of technology, mental health, e-cigarette use, and negative peer relationships. The top-rated delivery method for a parent-based intervention was via a website (53/129, 41.1%). The highest rated intervention component was opportunities for goal-setting (89/126, 70.7% rated very or extremely important), and other important program features were ease of use (89/122, 72.9%), paced learning (79/126, 62.7%), and appropriate program length (74/126, 58.8%).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that such interventions should be brief and web based and should aim to increase parental knowledge of health guidelines; provide opportunities for skill-building, such as goal-setting; and include effective behavior change techniques, such as motivational interviewing and social support. This study will inform the development of future parent-based preventive interventions to prevent multiple lifestyle risk behaviors among adolescents.
| S-EPMC10131774 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe author investigated the educational needs of nurses in an American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet hospital to determine topics of interest, instruction time and delivery preferences, and interest in a research information skills certificate provided by the library.MethodsA 9-question survey was distributed to 1,500 nursing staff of the hospital through email.ResultsSurveys were completed by 865 respondents, which represented a response rate of 58%. The majority of respondents were registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and paramedics (81%), and day-shift workers (65%). For education topics, nursing staff placed the highest priority on finding health-related mobile apps for professionals and developing evidence-based research skills. For mode of delivery, respondents expressed a preference for unit-based in-service, computer-based tutorials, and hands-on computer training. Most (70%) respondents expressed an interest in participating in a research information skills certificate program.ConclusionsOur survey results reveal an avenue for reinvigorating and updating the library's educational program to match the needs of nursing staff and may offer valuable insight for other libraries seeking to do the same.
| S-EPMC5490699 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Bronchiolitis affects more than one-third of children less than age 2 years and can cause substantial anxiety for parents, leading them to seek information on how to care for their sick child. The aim of our qualitative study was to explore the information needs and preferences of parents caring for a child with bronchiolitis. METHODS:We used a qualitative descriptive approach. Participants were recruited by means of purposive sampling from Oct. 1, 2017, to Mar. 15, 2018 from the Stollery Children's Hospital emergency department, a specialized pediatric emergency department in Edmonton. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted. RESULTS:Fifty-three parents were recruited to participate, of whom 30 could not be reached after 4 contact attempts and 8 refused. Thus, 15 parents participated (16 children). Three major themes were identified: 1) parents' information needs about bronchiolitis, 2) parents' preferred information sources and 3) parents' preferred information delivery formats. Participants indicated that they want and require credible, easy-to-understand information about bronchiolitis in a variety of formats, and especially valued information obtained directly from a health care professional or an evidence-based website. INTERPRETATION:This study provides important information about parents' information needs concerning bronchiolitis in children. Identifying the information that parents want and value in relation to acute pediatric illnesses is imperative to developing innovative educational approaches for parents that reflect patient-centred care.
| S-EPMC6944130 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWomen with prior severe preeclampsia are at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life compared to women who had a normotensive pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess their needs and preferences regarding app-based cardiovascular health promotion.MethodsPatients (n = 35) of the Follow-Up PreEClampsia Outpatient Clinic (FUPEC), Erasmus MC, the Netherlands, participated in an anonymous online survey. The main outcomes under study were women's needs for health behavior promotion, and their preferences with respect to intervention delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate needs, and thematic analysis was used to analyze preferences.ResultsWomen's primary need for health behavior promotion pertained to their fat and sugar intake and physical activity; for some, to their mental health (practices), fruit and vegetable intake, salt intake, and water intake; and for a few, to their alcohol and tobacco use. Most women preferred an app-based intervention to include, in descending order: the tracking of health-related metrics, an interactive platform, the use of behavior change strategies, the provision of information, and personalization.ConclusionCardiovascular health promotion targeting women with prior severe preeclampsia should feel relevant to its audience. App-based interventions are likely to be well received if they target fat and sugar intake and physical activity. These interventions should preferably track health-related metrics, be interactive, contain behavior change strategies, provide information, and be personalized. Adopting these findings during intervention design could potentially increase uptake, behavior change, and behavior change maintenance in this population.
| S-EPMC9618195 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceMany of the 50 000 children who die annually are eligible for provision of community-based hospice care, yet few hospice organizations offer formal pediatric services. Population-level data demonstrate that hospice nurses lack training, experience, and comfort in caring for children, but their specific educational needs and preferences are poorly understood.ObjectiveTo assess the pediatric-specific training and support needs of hospice nurses caring for children in the community.Design, setting, and participantsFor this qualitative study, 41 nurses were purposively seletected from a population-level cohort of 551 hospice nurses who completed a previous mixed-methods survey; these 41 nurses participated in semistructured interviews between February and April 2019. Hospice nurses were recruited from all accredited hospice organizations in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas that offer care to pediatric patients. Content analysis of interview transcripts was conducted.Main outcomes and measuresThe interview guide probed for topics related to prior pediatric hospice training experiences, desires and preferences for training, and perceived barriers to training.ResultsInterviews were conducted with 41 nurses representing different geographic regions and levels of comfort with pediatric hospice provision (as self-reported in the prior survey). Thirty-eight of the nurses were women (92.7%), with a median age of 40-49 years (range, 20-29 to ≥60 years) and median tenure of 5-9 years (range, <1 to ≥20 years) as a hospice nurse. Respondents included 1 American Indian or Alaska Native nurse (2.4%), 1 Black nurse (2.4%), and 39 White nurses (95.1%). Across interviews, most hospice nurses reported feeling uncomfortable caring for children with serious illness, and all nurses used language to express the immediacy behind the need for pediatric-specific training and support. Nurses explained why further training and support are needed and clear preferences for who should provide the education, educational modalities, and specific training topics. Nurses also articulated barriers to training and support opportunities and proposed innovative suggestions for overcoming these challenges. Notably, nurses emphasized the need for connection with experts, a sense of community, and solidarity to support frontline clinicians providing end-of-life care to children in the community.Conclusions and relevanceIn this qualitative study, community hospice nurses expressed an urgent need for improvements in pediatric-specific training opportunities and support, clear preferences for how education should be provided, and recommendations for circumventing barriers to training. These findings are a call to action for the palliative care community to collaborate in rapid implementation of educational programs and networks to systematically support hospice nurses caring for children in the community.
| S-EPMC8491107 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundParents have significant responsibility in the care of their critically ill children who have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). When staying with their children in the hospital, they also have particular needs that should be adequately acknowledged and responded to by healthcare providers. Moreover, when their needs are not identified and addressed, parents may experience stress and anxiety as a result. This study describes the needs of parents caring for hospitalized critically ill children, as perceived by parents and nurses.MethodsThis study used a descriptive qualitative research design. Five focus group discussions with nurses and parents of critically ill children, who were purposefully recruited, were conducted at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Hospital. A qualitative content analysis guided the analysis of the data.ResultsTwo themes emerged from the perceptions of parents and nurses about the needs of parents caring for hospitalized critically ill children. These were: "engaging parents in the care of their children" and "receiving psychosocial support". Both parents and nurses identified the importance of providing adequate information about their children's progress, encouraging and involving parents in the care of their children and having flexible visiting time for parents was vital when caring for critically ill children.ConclusionsThis study provides an in-depth understanding of parents' needs when caring for critically ill children in the hospital setting. Nurses caring for these children should understand the needs of parents and integrate the parents into the daily care of their children. Nurses should also continuously support, inform and engage parents during child-caring procedures. Finally, visiting times for intensive care units should be flexible and allow more time for parents to connect with their hospitalized children.
| S-EPMC6854695 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAlcohol abuse is not only harmful to the consumer but may also negatively impact individuals in the drinker's social environment. Alcohol's harm to others is vital to consider when calculating the true societal cost of alcohol use. Children of parents who have alcohol use disorder tend to have an elevated risk of negative outcomes regarding, e.g., health, education, and social relationships. Research on the general youth population has established a link between parental drinking and offspring alcohol use. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding other outcomes, such as health. The current study aimed to investigate the associations between parental drinking and children's psychological and somatic complaints, and perceived stress.MethodsData were derived from a nationally representative sample, obtained from the 2010 Swedish Level-of-Living survey (LNU). Parents and adolescents (ages 10-18) living in the same households were interviewed independently. The final study sample included 909 adolescents from 629 households. The three outcomes, psychological and somatic complaints and perceived stress, were derived from adolescents' self-reports. Parents' self-reports of alcohol use, both frequency and quantity, were used to categorise adolescents as having abstaining, low-consuming, moderate-drinking, or heavy-drinking parents. Control variables included adolescents' gender, age, family structure, and household socioeconomic status. Linear and binary logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsParental heavy drinking was more common among adolescents living in more socioeconomically advantaged households and among adolescents living with two custodial parents or in reconstituted families. Adolescents with heavy-drinking parents reported higher levels of psychological and somatic complaints and had an increased likelihood of reporting stress, compared with those having moderate-drinking parents. These associations remained statistically significant when adjusting for all control variables.ConclusionThe current study's results show that parental alcohol consumption is associated with poorer offspring adolescent health. Public health policies that aim to reduce parental drinking or provide support to these adolescents may be beneficial. Further studies investigating the health-related outcomes among young people living with heavy-drinking parents in the general population are needed to gain more knowledge about these individuals and to implement adequate public health measures.
| S-EPMC9872733 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) tools were developed during the past decades and are increasingly used by patients in cancer care too. Scientific research in the development of mHealth services is required in order to meet the various needs of patients and test usability.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess patients' needs, preferences, and usability of an app (My University Clinic [MUC] app) developed by the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF) Germany.MethodsBased on a qualitative cross-sectional approach, we conducted semistructured interviews with patients with cancer, addressing their needs, preferences, and usability of the designed MUC app. Patients treated by the CCCF were recruited based on a purposive sampling technique focusing on age, sex, cancer diagnoses, and treatment setting (inpatient, outpatient). Data analysis followed the qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz and was performed using computer-assisted software (MAXQDA).ResultsFor the interviews, 17 patients with cancer were selected, covering a broad range of sampling parameters. The results showed that patients expect benefits in terms of improved information about the disease and communication with the clinic staff. Demands for additional features were identified (eg, a list of contact persons and medication management). The most important concerns referred to data security and the potential restriction of personal contacts with health care professionals of the clinical departments of the CCCF. In addition, some features for improving the design of the MUC app with respect to usability or for inclusion of interacting tools were suggested by the patients.ConclusionsThe results of this qualitative study were discussed within the multidisciplinary team and the MUC app providers. Patients' perspectives and needs will be included in further development of the MUC app. There will be a second study phase in which patients will receive a test version of the MUC app and will be asked about their experiences with it.Trial registrationDeutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00022162; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00022162.
| S-EPMC10415940 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundChildren and families affected by rare diseases have received scant consideration from the medical, scientific, and political communities, with parents' needs especially having received little attention. Affected parents often have limited access to information and support and appropriate health care services. While scales to measure the needs of parents of children with chronic illnesses have been developed, there have been no previous attempts to develop a scale to assess the needs of parents of children with rare diseases.ObjectiveTo develop a scale for measuring the supportive care needs of parents of children with rare diseases.MethodA total of 301 responses to our Parental Needs Survey were randomly divided into two halves, one for exploratory factor analysis and the other for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). After removing unsuitable items, exploratory factor analysis was undertaken to determine the factor structure of the data. CFA using structural equation modeling was then undertaken to confirm the factor structure.ResultsSeventy-two items were entered into the CFA, with a scree plot showing a likely four-factor solution. The results provided four independent subscales of parental needs: Understanding the disease (four items); Working with health professionals (four items); Emotional issues (three items); and Financial needs (three items). The structural equation modeling confirmed the suitability of the four-factor solution and demonstrated that the four subscales could be added to provide an overall scale of parental need.ConclusionThis is the first scale developed to measure the supportive care needs of parents of children with rare diseases. The scale is suitable for use in surveys to develop policy, in individual clinical assessments, and, potentially, for evaluating new programs. Measuring the supportive care needs of parents caring for a child with a rare disease will hopefully lead to better physical and psychological health outcomes for parents and their affected children.
| S-EPMC5024776 | biostudies-literature