Supporting parent-professional partnerships in CMC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Supporting parent-professional partnerships in the care of children with complex medical needs.
IRAS ID
334825
Contact name
Gemma Heath
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Collaboration between parents and healthcare professionals is essential, particularly for children with medical complexities. Research and policy emphasise the importance of engaging parents as active partners in their child’s care, as this collaboration improves health outcomes and quality of care. By working together, parents and professionals can share insights, make informed decisions, and create a supportive environment tailored to each child’s needs. However, maintaining this partnership can be challenging. Miscommunication and lack of coordination can hinder collaboration, creating discord and preventing the full integration of parents into clinical care. This research aims to identify facilitators, barriers, and strategies to strengthen parent-professional partnerships and enhance outcomes for children with medical complexities.
The project consists of three phases: a Systematic Review, a Qualitative Exploration, and an Intervention Co-development phase. The qualitative phase will involve recorded interviews with parents and healthcare professionals, with 12–15 participants in each group.
•For parents: Individual interviews will be scheduled at a convenient time, either online or in-person. Participation will have no impact on the child’s care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
•For healthcare professionals: Group interviews will be offered, with an option for individual interviews if needed. Both online and in-person participation will be available.
Findings from the Qualitative Exploration will inform the Intervention Co-development phase.
A Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) group, consisting of parents and healthcare professionals, will provide input throughout the project. Their insights have informed the study design and materials used and will also guide the analysis, synthesis of findings, and co-design of an intervention to better integrate parents into clinical teams through improved partnerships with healthcare professionals.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0313
Date of REC Opinion
1 May 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion