Factors affecting children's involvement in asthma consultations: a questionnaire survey of general practitioners and primary care asthma nurses

Abstract

Aim:

To explore UK primary care healthcare practitioners' involvement of children in asthma consultations.

Method:

Self-report questionnaires with both quantitative and qualitative sections were sent to 124 consenting general practices in seven Primary Care Trusts for completion by nurses and general practitioners (GPs).

Results:

Some healthcare practitioners struggle to achieve concordance with children in consultations. Communication with children and their parents can be challenging, with parents acting as potential facilitators and barriers. Age and cognitive ability are perceived to be the most important factors affecting children's involvement in consultations.

Conclusions:

Involving children in consultations is challenging and some practitioners have developed specific strategies to help them communicate. However, additional training may be needed to enable them to facilitate children's involvement.