Mary Malone

Health information seeking and its effect on the doctor–patient digital divide

A survey of 224 individuals using SureStart services (for young families) within an inner-London area was complemented by qualitative data from five focus groups of parents and general practitioners in the same area. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were used to identify and describe discrete geographical districts with differing patterns of health information seeking. A geographically defined group of ‘information hungry’/‘online’ health seekers was identified. This group contrasted with those acquiring information through ‘assimilation’ (‘offline’ information seekers). Qualitative data revealed the processes underpinning these characteristics and professional attitudes towards the Internet as a source of health information.

Child safety from the perspective of essential needs

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the maternal care for children under one year of age with a view to child health promotion at home. METHOD: exploratory study with qualitative data analysis, thematic mode, based on the conceptual framework of the essential needs of children, based on interviews recorded with 16 mothers. RESULTS: the analysis of the maternal narratives showed elements that facilitate the promotion of child safety: presence and involvement of the parents, constant surveillance for physical and emotional protection, experiences to stimulate child development, support networks for childcare at home; and inhibiting elements of child safety: limited perception of characteristics of child development and of childrens singularities, overprotection and difficulties to set limits. CONCLUSION: the study enhances the understanding of home care in child health promotion, directing professional actions to guarantee ongoing nurturing relationships, protection, respect for individual differences, experiences appropriate to child development, limit setting and construction of stable and supportive social networks. In addition, the relevance of considering the maternal perspective in child health care is considered, as a strategy to apprehend aspects related to the attendance of the growth and development needs, particularly for child health promotion at home.OBJETIVO: caracterizar los cuidados maternos a menores de un ano para la promocion de la seguridad infantil en el domicilio.METODO: estudio exploratorio, con analisis cualitativo de los datos, modalidad tematica, fundamentado en el cuadro conceptual de las necesidades esenciales del nino, a partir de entrevistas grabadas con 16 madres.RESULTADOS: el analisis de las narraciones maternas mostro elementos facilitadores de la promocion de la seguridad infantil: presencia y participacion de los padres; vigilancia constante para proteccion fisica y emocional; experiencias estimuladoras del desarrollo; redes de amparo para el cuidado del nino en el domicilio; y, elementos inhibidores de la seguridad infantil (poca percepcion de las caracteristicas del desarrollo infantil y de las singularidades del nino, sobreproteccion y dificultades para establecimiento de limites).CONCLUSION: el estudio amplia la comprension sobre el cuidado domiciliar en la promocion de la salud infantil, orientando acciones profesionales para garantizar relaciones sustentadores continuas, proteccion, respeto a las diferencias individuales, experiencias adecuadas al desarrollo, establecimiento de limites y construccion de redes sociales estables y de amparo. Tambien reafirma la relevancia de considerar las perspectivas maternas en el cuidado de la salud del nino, como la estrategia para aprender aspectos relacionados al suministro de las necesidades del crecimiento y desarrollo, particularmente para la promocion de la seguridad infantil en el domicilio.OBJECTIVE: to characterize the maternal care for children under one year of age with a view to child health promotion at home. METHOD: exploratory study with qualitative data analysis, thematic mode, based on the conceptual framework of the essential needs of children, based on interviews recorded with 16 mothers. RESULTS: the analysis of the maternal narratives showed elements that facilitate the promotion of child safety: presence and involvement of the parents, constant surveillance for physical and emotional protection, experiences to stimulate child development, support networks for childcare at home; and inhibiting elements of child safety: limited perception of characteristics of child development and of childrens singularities, overprotection and difficulties to set limits. CONCLUSION: the study enhances the understanding of home care in child health promotion, directing professional actions to guarantee ongoing nurturing relationships, protection, respect for individual differences, experiences appropriate to child development, limit setting and construction of stable and supportive social networks. In addition, the relevance of considering the maternal perspective in child health care is considered, as a strategy to apprehend aspects related to the attendance of the growth and development needs, particularly for child health promotion at home.

La seguridad del niño en la perspectiva de las necesidades esenciales

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the maternal care for children under one year of age with a view to child health promotion at home. METHOD: exploratory study with qualitative data analysis, thematic mode, based on the conceptual framework of the essential needs of children, based on interviews recorded with 16 mothers. RESULTS: the analysis of the maternal narratives showed elements that facilitate the promotion of child safety: presence and involvement of the parents, constant surveillance for physical and emotional protection, experiences to stimulate child development, support networks for childcare at home; and inhibiting elements of child safety: limited perception of characteristics of child development and of childrens singularities, overprotection and difficulties to set limits. CONCLUSION: the study enhances the understanding of home care in child health promotion, directing professional actions to guarantee ongoing nurturing relationships, protection, respect for individual differences, experiences appropriate to child development, limit setting and construction of stable and supportive social networks. In addition, the relevance of considering the maternal perspective in child health care is considered, as a strategy to apprehend aspects related to the attendance of the growth and development needs, particularly for child health promotion at home.OBJETIVO: caracterizar los cuidados maternos a menores de un ano para la promocion de la seguridad infantil en el domicilio.METODO: estudio exploratorio, con analisis cualitativo de los datos, modalidad tematica, fundamentado en el cuadro conceptual de las necesidades esenciales del nino, a partir de entrevistas grabadas con 16 madres.RESULTADOS: el analisis de las narraciones maternas mostro elementos facilitadores de la promocion de la seguridad infantil: presencia y participacion de los padres; vigilancia constante para proteccion fisica y emocional; experiencias estimuladoras del desarrollo; redes de amparo para el cuidado del nino en el domicilio; y, elementos inhibidores de la seguridad infantil (poca percepcion de las caracteristicas del desarrollo infantil y de las singularidades del nino, sobreproteccion y dificultades para establecimiento de limites).CONCLUSION: el estudio amplia la comprension sobre el cuidado domiciliar en la promocion de la salud infantil, orientando acciones profesionales para garantizar relaciones sustentadores continuas, proteccion, respeto a las diferencias individuales, experiencias adecuadas al desarrollo, establecimiento de limites y construccion de redes sociales estables y de amparo. Tambien reafirma la relevancia de considerar las perspectivas maternas en el cuidado de la salud del nino, como la estrategia para aprender aspectos relacionados al suministro de las necesidades del crecimiento y desarrollo, particularmente para la promocion de la seguridad infantil en el domicilio.OBJECTIVE: to characterize the maternal care for children under one year of age with a view to child health promotion at home. METHOD: exploratory study with qualitative data analysis, thematic mode, based on the conceptual framework of the essential needs of children, based on interviews recorded with 16 mothers. RESULTS: the analysis of the maternal narratives showed elements that facilitate the promotion of child safety: presence and involvement of the parents, constant surveillance for physical and emotional protection, experiences to stimulate child development, support networks for childcare at home; and inhibiting elements of child safety: limited perception of characteristics of child development and of childrens singularities, overprotection and difficulties to set limits. CONCLUSION: the study enhances the understanding of home care in child health promotion, directing professional actions to guarantee ongoing nurturing relationships, protection, respect for individual differences, experiences appropriate to child development, limit setting and construction of stable and supportive social networks. In addition, the relevance of considering the maternal perspective in child health care is considered, as a strategy to apprehend aspects related to the attendance of the growth and development needs, particularly for child health promotion at home.