Parent Perceptions of Pediatric Primary Care Providers' Mental Health-Related Communication and Practices

Abstract

Introduction: The pediatric primary care office is an ideal setting to address children's socioemotional-behavioral health. However, research is limited regarding parents' experiences and satisfaction in sharing mental-health concerns about their children during well-child visits.

Method: One thousand seven hundred sixty-three parents and caregivers with children aged 3-17 years completed an online survey that addressed mental-health-related communication.

Results: Findings supported the key role that primary care providers play in communicating about mental-health issues; 75% of parents who had such a concern about their child raised it during the visit, although the majority desired more time devoted to discussing mental health. Parents' comfort discussing mental-health concerns was inversely related to providers' dismissing those concerns.

Discussion: Despite satisfaction with how providers addressed mental-health issues, results suggested that nonjudgmental, knowledgeable staff and discussion of child and parent strengths could facilitate both parental comfort and communication between parents and pediatricians.

Keywords: Primary care; behavioral health; communication; mental health; parents.