DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES OF INNER-CITY PARENTS AND PEDIATRIC CLINICIANS IMPACT MANAGEMENT OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

MB Pierce, RE Crowell, and AM Ferris

J Nutr Educ Behav, May 1, 2006; 38(3): 169-76.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the beliefs and experiences of inner-city pediatric clinicians and parents regarding anemia in young children. DESIGN: Focus groups and in-depth interviews.

SETTING: Pediatric clinics and community agencies in Hartford, Connecticut.

PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 41 pediatric clinicians (93% white, 73% female) and 85 parents (100% minority, 88% female, 47% < 12 years education).

PHENOMENON OF INTEREST: Identification, understanding, and management of anemia.

ANALYSIS: Researcher pairs coded complete transcriptions. Recurrent themes were identified, which were then contrasted and compared between clinicians and parents.

RESULTS: Both clinicians and parents were familiar with, but frustrated by the persistence of anemia. They noted time constraints and poor communication during office visits as contributing to the problem. Parents felt alarmed upon initial diagnosis; linked anemia with heredity, food patterns, and activity; reported culturally linked management strategies; but were uncertain of the seriousness. Health clinicians saw physiological processes as outside the parents' understanding and emphasized prevention through feeding recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In order to address childhood anemia effectively, differing socio-cultural perspectives of clinicians and parents need to be incorporated into a unified health care plan. Nutritionists are well suited to collaborate on the health care team to effectively address this issue.

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