Management of respiratory tract infections in young children-A qualitative study of primary care providers' perspectives.

Respiratory tract infections in young children are the most common cause of general practice visits in Australia. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines, the treatment and management of respiratory tract infections in young children is inconsistent. The aim of the study was to explore the management of respiratory tract infections in young children from a multi-disciplinary perspective using across-sectional qualitative research design based on the theoretical domains framework and the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation-B model. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 primary care providers to explore their knowledge, views and management of respiratory tract infections in young children. Interviews focused on symptomatic management, over-the-counter medications and antibiotic use, and data were thematically analysed. Our findings showed that factors such as primary care providers' time constraints, parental anxiety, general practitioners' perception of what parents want, perceived parental pressure, and fear of losing patients were some of the reasons why primary care providers did not always adhere to guideline recommendations. Primary care providers also provided conflicting advice to parents concerning over-the-counter medications and when children should resume normal activities. Overall, this study showed that complex interactions involving emotional and psychological factors influenced the decision making process of primary care providers' management of respiratory tract infections in young children. A team care approach with consistent advice, and improved communication between primary care providers and parents is vital to overcome some of these barriers and improve guideline adherence. The findings of this research will inform the development of interventions to better manage respiratory tract infections in young children. RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS: CLINICIANS SWAYED BY PARENTAL ANXIETY AND PRESSURE: The emotions and psychology of both parents and clinicians influence how respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are managed in young children. Researchers in Australia, led by Ruby Biezen from Monash University, interviewed 30 primary care clinicians about their views on how to care for children with RTIs, such as the common cold. The interviews focused on symptomatic management, over-the-counter medications and antibiotic use. Despite the availability of best-practice guidelines, clinicians did not always follow the recommendations owing to factors such as time constraints, parental anxiety, perceived parental pressure, and fear of losing patients. These are some of the reasons why clinicians sometimes advise or prescribe unnecessary medications. The authors suggest that a team approach involving multiple healthcare professionals who deliver consistent advice could improve guideline adherence.

Applying the CHIME recovery framework in two culturally diverse Australian communities: Qualitative results.

BACKGROUND: CHIME (connectedness, hope and optimism about the future, identity, meaning in life and empowerment) is a framework for conceptualising personal recovery from mental illness. To date, there has been limited research on its cross-cultural applicability. AIMS: To apply CHIME to two culturally diverse groups' conceptualisation of recovery from depression. METHOD: Qualitative interviews with 30 Anglo-Australians and 28 Indian-Australians living with depression in Melbourne, Australia. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Both groups valued connectedness but experienced stigma and struggled to broker family support. Identity, hope and optimism for the future were associated with positive thinking, being 'cured' and discontinuing treatment. Spirituality gave Indian participants meaning in life; Anglos derived meaning from the illness experience itself. Feeling empowered, for both groups, was related to improved socio-economic status and being 'settled' (e.g. having gainful employment, a home and family). CONCLUSIONS: CHIME was applicable in both groups, but culture mediated how cross-cutting issues (e.g. stigma) and sub-components of CHIME were operationalised. Recovery was also influenced by participant's socio-economic context. Research, policy and practice implications are discussed.

Investigating patient perspectives on medical returns and buying medicines online in two communities in Melbourne, Australia: results from a qualitative study.

AIMS: By going online or overseas, patients can purchase a range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), without prescription and without input from a qualified health professional. Such practices raise questions about medicine safety and how and why patients choose to procure medicines using such methods. The aim of this paper is to examine two unconventional types of medicine procurement-medical returns and purchasing medicines online-from the patient perspective. METHODS: Data are drawn from a large qualitative study examining health-seeking practices among Indian-Australians (28) and Anglo-Australians (30) living with depression in Melbourne, Australia. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were undertaken. Thematic analysis was performed. FINDINGS: A total of 23 (39.6 %) participants reported having obtained medicines either through the internet or via medical returns. Indian-Australians sourced medicines from India while Anglo-Australians purchased CAM products from domestic and international e-pharmacies. Neither group encountered any difficulties in the medicines entering Australia. Cost and convenience were the main reasons for buying medicines online but dissatisfaction with Australian health services also influenced why Indian-Australians sought medicines from India. Nearly all participants reported benefits from consuming these medicines; only one person reported adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The increased availability of medicines transnationally and patients' preparedness to procure these medicines from a range of sources raise important issues for the safe use of medicines. Further research is needed to understand how patients forge their own transnational therapeutic regimes, understand and manage their levels of risk in relation to safe medicine use and what points of intervention might be most effective to promote safe medicine use.