![]() ![]() For children, COVID-19 information has been described and explained by Alberca et al. ![]() The UK National Health Service (NHS) provided guidance for COVID-19 patients in primary care and family doctor services ( 7). Providing and disseminating timely, clear, and reliable information for parents has been challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged hospitals in preparing effective response systems ( 6). However, a recent study in the United Kingdom reported that delayed presentations at emergency departments were rare ( 4). There were concerns from pediatricians that unwell children were more likely to be affected by non-COVID-19-related disease and collateral damage from delayed presentation could be significant. Parents of unwell children might delay contacting healthcare services fearing nosocomial infection, being isolated from their child, or not wanting to burden the hospital during the pandemic. Rates of presentation have fallen by 70% since the start of the pandemic, and a report from Italy documented an increase in delayed presentations resulting in avoidable harms and increased pediatric intensive care admissions ( 5). Pediatric emergency departments experienced a significant drop in attendances during the 1st months of lockdown ( 4). ![]() Closure of schools and nurseries has had a huge impact on families with children ( 3). The difference between the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other epidemics is the mandated social isolation and distancing measures. The COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by the sense of fear and anxiety experienced by both children and families ( 1, 2). Providing parents with targeted information to recognize serious illness in children at home could potentially foster self-care and safely maintain a reduction in pediatric emergency attendances for self-limiting illnesses. Parents found it helpful it increased their confidence and positively changed their health-seeking behaviors. (3) Decision aid-parents commented that the leaflet provided clarification around recognition of serious symptoms and when and where to seek appropriate care.Ĭonclusions: Our leaflet provided parents with guidance on decision making and risk assessment of ill children during COVID-19 lockdown. ![]() (2) Usability-parents reported that the leaflet was clearly designed. (1) Knowledge-parents found the leaflet an objective source to validate their concerns. Content analysis revealed three categories. Twelve of these parents decided to seek medical consultation when they had not planned to before. Thirty-three (19.2%) parents used the leaflet, while their child was unwell during COVID-19 lockdown, and in 14 (42%) cases, the leaflet resulted in changing health-seeking behavior for that episode. The leaflet increased the confidence among 116 parents (67.8%) to recognize if their child is ill, and 156 (91.2%) parents had a better understanding of when and where to seek help. Most parents ( n = 160, 93.6%) found the leaflet helpful. Results: In total, 171 parents responded. Categorical data were analyzed as frequencies, and inductive content analysis was performed with the qualitative data. Social media was used for data collection in a 6-week period (April–June 2020) during COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Method: A nine-item survey, codesigned with parent advisors, was used to measure confidence and health-seeking behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate the “How to recognize if your child is seriously ill” leaflet on parents' confidence, health-seeking behaviors, and usefulness during the COVID-19 lockdown. Providing parents with guidance in decision making might improve their confidence to seek timely advice when a child becomes ill. Background: Parents' health-seeking behaviors has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. ![]()
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