An evaluation of parents' perceptions of the quality of care of an intervention provided for children with mild to moderate health problems.

Abstract

Background: Mental health problems are increasing among children and adolescents. Parents play a pivotal role in care, and intervention programmes have been introduced directed towards children with mild to moderate mental health problems. Due to long waiting times for specialised psychiatric care, such programmes could serve as means to ease the burden on mental health clinics for children 6-14 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate parents' assessments of the quality of care of an intervention programme and associations with the children's physical and mental health after treatment.

Methods: Parents' assessment of the quality of care was investigated through a questionnaire. Outcome variables were parents' perceptions of the children's physical and mental health after treatment. Explanatory variables were background factors, care organisation and the content of care.

Findings: 31% of the parents assessed their child's physical health as less than good, and 46% their child's mental health as less than good, after treatment. Long waiting times (OR 2.50; 1.17-5.30), parents' ability to have private conversations with the therapist (OR 0.45; 0.22-0.94), and deficiencies in the content of care were associated with less good physical health after treatment. Less good mental health after treatment was associated with older age of children (OR 2.01; 1.01-3.99) and deficiencies in care content.

Conclusion: Age of the child, long waiting time, and perceived deficiencies in the content of care were associated with less physical and mental well-being of the child after the intervention. These findings call for improvement of care.