Table 3 Findings of content analysis related to expressions of worry in calls regarding severely ill children (Group 3: hospitalized ≥24 h)
From: How parents express their worry in calls to a medical helpline: a mixed methods study
Quotes (meaning units) | Themes, categories and codes |
|---|---|
Theme: Reason for worry | |
“A couple of hours ago, at around seven o’clock, [name] suddenly got this really intense pain in her stomach (…) it happened really fast. Like out of the blue.” (1695) | Category: Loss of control Codes: - Deterioration or symptom changing - New symptom occurred - Rapid onset - Treatment is not working as expected |
“Because I never really experienced that, I have three children, right, and I have never experienced any of them having this intense stomach pain.” (2594) | Category: Previous experiences Codes: - Worried due to previous experiences - Illness unlike previous experiences - Chronic disease |
“-He was diagnosed with right-sided pneumonia, which he got prescribed antibiotics for. -Yes. -Eh, I don’t know, I don’t know how long I should like wait and see, but I think he has gotten worse, especially his breathing is worrying me.” (2151) | Category: Illness manifestation Codes: - Breathing difficulty - High fever - Intense stomach pain - Infant |
“And coughing, it is hopefully just normal eh, cold or the flu, I don’t know [short pause] what to do” (1585) | Category: Uncertainty Codes: - I don’t know what to do, I don’t understand |
“-I’ve been to the doctors twice with her today. This morning she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and [interrupted] -This morning, you said? -Yes, this morning. And then she got worse and worse (−Yes.) - and got troubled breathing so I went to the doctor again at 2 o’clock where she said that she could hear a bad pneumonia on the right side. (−Okay.) -So, we were asked to take some more antibiotics and she’d immediately get better. And she’s not, but [interrupted] -Well, ‘immediately’, that’s such a daft thing to say, I’m sorry but [interrupted] -It’s not because it should, she only said that she shouldn’t get worse. (2147) | Category: Recent healthcare contact Codes: - Has been to the hospital - Contact to GP/MH1813 |
“-But his respiratory rate is 42 and [interrupted] -That’s because he has a fever. -No, it’s not. Well yes, it’s natural that his respiratory rate is increased, but not that much. And he’s grunting and having retractions. -May I hear his breathing? -Yes, of course (…) I don’t know how much you could hear, but what worries me is his [interrupted] -May I hear it again? I will make a referral; I just want to hear it myself.” (2166, caller [father] is a physician) “-Yes, what seems to be the matter with your son? -He has [interrupted] -His name is [name]? -Yes, that’s right. He has a fever of 39.7 and [interrupted] -For how long has he had a fever? -He has had it since afternoon, noon today he has had fever, so I give him (paracetamol) a lot, but it doesn’t help, and he wheezes because [interrupted] -When did you last give him some [paracetamol]? -Eh, I gave him last time four hours ago. -Yes, eh. -Problem is also, he has asthma and he coughs a lot. I was at the GP today with him, but they say maybe he [interrupted] (…) -And I have given him the reliev- [interrupted] -And you have given him medicine? Yes, I give him acute (broncodilator) [interrupted] (1588, caller [father] speaks with foreign accent, but quite understandable) | Category: Caller characteristics Codes: - Caller is the mother - Caller is the father - Caller is a healthcare professional - Caller belongs to minority group (potential language barrier) |
Theme: Regaining control | |
“-Okay. And you don’t think it can wait until tomorrow, until our GP opens? -No, not, the reason why I think it can’t wait is that he’s so young and he has got these, what we call retractions, he uses all of his, his accessory muscles to breathe. -Okay. -Mm, so that’s why, and that, that shallow breathing that you’re describing, right, even if (−Yes.) -as you say, his general well-being seems good enough, but [interrupted] -Yes, because as I said, he’s happy, he’s lying and looking around, right, it’s just … “(1590) | Category: Response to triage decision Codes: - Reluctance to going to the hospital - Caller still not in control - Caller has regained control |