Perceptions about satisfaction with health care are rarely solicited from children and adolescents, despite developmental and ethical implications suggesting they may have much to say about the clinic experience. This study’s purpose was to compare children’s and adolescents’ perceptions about their outpatient sub-specialty care to opinions given by their parents.
Method: This descriptive, comparative survey design study employed a convenience sample of children and adolescents (n=116), receiving care at two metropolitan pediatric sub-specialty clinics, and their parents (n=115). Data were obtained from a survey instrument previously developed for in-patient use (Lindeke & Johnson, in review). Additionally, three open-ended questions were solicited regarding best and worst aspects of care.
Results: Although there was moderate significant correlation between child-teen and parent scores, parent ratings demonstrated significantly higher levels of satisfaction as compared to child-teen ratings. Responses to open-ended questions revealed children’s and teens’ opinions varied from parents’ opinions regarding the best and worst aspects of the clinic experience. Children and teens most frequently identified the friendly, respectful, and caring environment as the best part of the experience, a finding which differed from parents’ top issue of clinical competence. Children and teens described fear of pain or actual pain to be the worst aspect of clinic visits; parents identified the long waiting time during visits as the worst aspect.
Discussion: Despite overall positive data, important negative and positive aspects of the care experience were clearly identified through use of open-ended questions, suggesting that open-ended questions may increase the usefulness of survey tools to inform change and develop policies within the clinic setting. Findings further suggest current health care practices of having parents serve as proxies in evaluating pediatric ambulatory care may not accurately represent views of children and teens. Findings support children’s and teens’ ability to provide input into care improvement processes.
Session #1223 - Graduate Student Poster Session
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)