• Rick T van Uum, Roderick P Venekamp, SchilderAnne G MAGMJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Office number FAC 5.09, P.O. Box 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.evidENT, Ear Institute, University College London, Lon, DamoiseauxRoger A M JRAMJJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Office number FAC 5.09, P.O. Box 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands., and Sibyl Anthierens.
• Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Office number FAC 5.09, P.O. Box 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. R.T.vanUum-2@umcutrecht.nl.
• Bmc Fam Pract. 2019 Jan 23; 20 (1): 1818.

BackgroundFor unclarified reasons, parents tend to be cautious about administering analgesics to their children, potentially leading to suboptimal management of AOM symptoms. We aim to understand parents' views and expectations of pain management in acute otitis media (AOM) in children.MethodsQualitative study alongside a cluster-randomised controlled trial (PIM-POM study) aimed at optimising pain management in childhood AOM. We purposefully sampled 14 parents of children diagnosed with AOM by their GP, who were recruited to the trial between November 2017 and May 2018. Semi-structured interviews were held at home in the first two weeks after trial enrollment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically.ResultsParents experienced difficulties in recognising earache and other symptoms of an ear infection. They consulted the GP for a diagnosis, for reassurance and for management advice. Parents shared that, prior to consultation, they had insufficient knowledge of the benefits of correctly dosed pain medication at regularly scheduled intervals. Parents valued the GP's advice on pain management, and were happy to accept pain medication as standalone therapy, provided that the GP explained why antibiotics would not be needed. Parents' views and expectations of pain management in AOM were shaped by previous experiences of AOM within their family; those with a positive experience of pain medication are more likely to use it in subsequent AOM episodes.ConclusionsParents of children with AOM consult the GP to help cope with uncertainties in recognising symptoms of AOM, and to receive management advice. It is important that GPs are aware of parents' lack of understanding of the role of pain medication in managing AOM, and that they address this during the consultation.Trial RegistrationNetherlands Trial Register, identifier NTR4920 (registration date: 19 December 2014).

26 keywords...

hide…