How paediatricians communicate with parents who access online health information.

AIMS: Recent years have seen an exponential increase in the proportion of parents searching for online health information on their child's medical condition. We investigated the experiences, attitudes and approaches of paediatricians interacting with parents who search for online health information and the impact on the doctor-parent relationship. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted utilising semi-structured interviews with 17 paediatric physicians, surgeons, anaesthetists and trainees working in an Australian children's hospital. Data were analysed through deductive and inductive thematic analysis using line-by-line coding. RESULTS: Three key themes were identified: paediatricians' experiences with, and attitudes towards, parents using online health information; paediatricians' communication approaches; and the perceived impact on the doctor-parent relationship. These themes demonstrated that most paediatricians acknowledged the information parents found and directed parents to reliable websites. Following discussions with Internet-informed parents, a few changed their management plans and a few reported discouraging parents from further searching online. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that paediatricians predominantly used patient-centred communication strategies to care for patients in partnership with parents. Paediatricians contextualising online health information can contribute to a quality partnership with parents and facilitate shared decision-making, potentially fostering better health outcomes for children. Our conclusions may inform clinicians' communication approaches when interacting with Internet-informed parents and stimulate research about more effective doctor-parent communication approaches. In a digital age, paediatricians may benefit from employing more time-efficient approaches to manage increasing workloads with their new role of digital stewardship of parents.

Usability, acceptability, and feasibility of a High-Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP) applicator as a delivery method for vaccination in clinical settings.

BACKGROUND: High-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) vaccines may increase vaccine acceptance and use. We aimed to ascertain whether professional immunizers (PIs) and other healthcare workers (HCWs) in Australia, a High-Income Country (HIC), found the HD-MAP applicator usable and acceptable for vaccine delivery. METHODS: This feasibility study recruited PIs and HCWs to administer/receive simulated HD-MAP administration, including via self-administration. We assessed usability against essential and desirable criteria. Participants completed a survey, rating their agreement to statements about HD-MAP administration. A subset also participated in an interview or focus group. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and interviews were transcribed and subject to thematic analysis. RESULTS: We recruited 61 participants: 23 PIs and 38 HCWs. Findings indicated high usability and acceptability of HD-MAP use across both groups by a healthcare professional or trained user and for self-administration with safety measures in place. Most administrations met essential criteria, but PIs, on average, applied the HD-MAP for slightly less time than the required 10-seconds, which the HCWs achieved. PIs perceived safety concerns about home administration but found layperson self-administration acceptable in an emergency, pandemic, and rural or remote settings. CONCLUSIONS: Participants found HD-MAP administration usable and acceptable. Usability and acceptability are likely to be improved through end-user education and training.

Professional immunizers and healthcare workers found high-density microarray patch devices highly usable and acceptable to administer vaccines.HD-MAPs may have advantages over intramuscular injections in clinical settings and in pandemics.Vaccination with HD-MAP may improve acceptance for those with needle-related anxiety.