Psychological Support and Single‐Session Interventions for Parents of Children With Long‐Term Health Conditions: A Qualitative Service Evaluation

Le résumé fourni par la source

RATIONALE: Parents of children with long-term physical health conditions (LTC) experience elevated rates of stress and mental health problems. Existing psychological interventions targeting this population may be effective in improving their mental health, but accessibility is a concern. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Given the increasing effectiveness and accessibility of single-session interventions (SSIs) across diverse populations, this qualitative study aimed to understand parents' need for psychological interventions and their opinions on SSIs. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected from 12 semi-structured interviews with 13 parents or primary carers of children with LTCs. RESULTS: Data were analysed using thematic analysis and four key themes, including (i) Mental health impact and coping mechanisms; (ii) Experience of psychological support; (iii) Format of psychological support and (iv) Opinions on single-session interventions, were identified. Participants described the impact their child's health condition had on their own mental health and outlined coping mechanisms. They talked about their previous and current experiences of psychological support to date, their expectations of psychological support and the elements they considered crucial in psychological interventions. Participants also shared their initial opinions about SSIs as a feasible treatment option. CONCLUSION: Overall, tailored interventions, the development of a professional therapeutic relationship, having choice and control were deemed important by parents. Future development of psychological interventions for this population should consider these aspects. Positive opinions on SSIs also revealed their potential applicability, and future studies should be conducted to assess their feasibility and effectiveness.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.