Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project

Background: Bronchiolitis is a seasonal, global acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and is a leading cause of hospital admission in young children. A peer-led (parents to parents) intervention was implemented to empower parents of children at risk of b...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bernie Carter, Anita Flynn, Jacqueline McKenna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1479
_version_ 1797474260972732416
author Bernie Carter
Anita Flynn
Jacqueline McKenna
author_facet Bernie Carter
Anita Flynn
Jacqueline McKenna
author_sort Bernie Carter
collection DOAJ
description Background: Bronchiolitis is a seasonal, global acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and is a leading cause of hospital admission in young children. A peer-led (parents to parents) intervention was implemented to empower parents of children at risk of bronchiolitis and reduce hospital admissions. This paper reported the evaluation that aimed to gain the perspectives and experiences of five key stakeholder groups. Methods: A qualitative remote interview-based design, informed by Appreciative Inquiry was used. Thematic analysis was used. Results: Sixty-five stakeholders participated: parents (n = 43; mothers, n = 42), Parent Champions (n = 9), Children’s Centre Managers (n = 8), Children’s Centre Group Leaders (n = 11), and Core Team (n = 4). An overarching theme ‘Parents reaching out to parents’ was supported by five sub-themes (Raising awareness and sharing knowledge; Creating connection, trust, and confidence; Flourishing in their role as a Parent Champion; Rising to the challenges; and Knowledge is power, prevention is key: the government needs to know this.) Conclusions: Parent-to-parent peer support via the Parent Champions was perceived positively by parents who wanted to learn and improve the lives and health of their children. Parent Champions were successful in delivering information. Considering the socioeconomic burden of bronchiolitis to services and families, the potential for an upstream, relatively low cost, high-reach innovative intervention, as evidenced in this project, seems a valuable opportunity for improving children’s respiratory health.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T20:27:39Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e6d66be6758847c4b0a4238db08fffe7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2227-9067
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T20:27:39Z
publishDate 2022-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Children
spelling doaj.art-e6d66be6758847c4b0a4238db08fffe72023-11-23T23:31:37ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-09-01910147910.3390/children9101479Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community ProjectBernie Carter0Anita Flynn1Jacqueline McKenna2Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UKFaculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UKFaculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UKBackground: Bronchiolitis is a seasonal, global acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and is a leading cause of hospital admission in young children. A peer-led (parents to parents) intervention was implemented to empower parents of children at risk of bronchiolitis and reduce hospital admissions. This paper reported the evaluation that aimed to gain the perspectives and experiences of five key stakeholder groups. Methods: A qualitative remote interview-based design, informed by Appreciative Inquiry was used. Thematic analysis was used. Results: Sixty-five stakeholders participated: parents (n = 43; mothers, n = 42), Parent Champions (n = 9), Children’s Centre Managers (n = 8), Children’s Centre Group Leaders (n = 11), and Core Team (n = 4). An overarching theme ‘Parents reaching out to parents’ was supported by five sub-themes (Raising awareness and sharing knowledge; Creating connection, trust, and confidence; Flourishing in their role as a Parent Champion; Rising to the challenges; and Knowledge is power, prevention is key: the government needs to know this.) Conclusions: Parent-to-parent peer support via the Parent Champions was perceived positively by parents who wanted to learn and improve the lives and health of their children. Parent Champions were successful in delivering information. Considering the socioeconomic burden of bronchiolitis to services and families, the potential for an upstream, relatively low cost, high-reach innovative intervention, as evidenced in this project, seems a valuable opportunity for improving children’s respiratory health.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1479bronchiolitisparent championdeprivationhospitalizationpeer-led supportsocio-economic burden
spellingShingle Bernie Carter
Anita Flynn
Jacqueline McKenna
Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
Children
bronchiolitis
parent champion
deprivation
hospitalization
peer-led support
socio-economic burden
title Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
title_full Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
title_fullStr Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
title_full_unstemmed Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
title_short Parents Reaching Out to Parents: An Appreciative, Qualitative Evaluation of Stakeholder Experiences of the Parent Champions in the Community Project
title_sort parents reaching out to parents an appreciative qualitative evaluation of stakeholder experiences of the parent champions in the community project
topic bronchiolitis
parent champion
deprivation
hospitalization
peer-led support
socio-economic burden
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1479
work_keys_str_mv AT berniecarter parentsreachingouttoparentsanappreciativequalitativeevaluationofstakeholderexperiencesoftheparentchampionsinthecommunityproject
AT anitaflynn parentsreachingouttoparentsanappreciativequalitativeevaluationofstakeholderexperiencesoftheparentchampionsinthecommunityproject
AT jacquelinemckenna parentsreachingouttoparentsanappreciativequalitativeevaluationofstakeholderexperiencesoftheparentchampionsinthecommunityproject