Parents' experiences and information needs when seeking emergency department care for their medically complex child: a mixed methods systematic review protocol

ObjectiveTo provide a comprehensive understanding of parents self-reported experiences and/or information needs related to the management of their child with medical complexity in the emergency department. BackgroundChildren with medical complexity frequently rely on emergency department services to address sudden changes in health status. While some primary research explores family experiences in caring for these children, there has been no comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence. Inclusion CriteriaPrimary studies of any design will be included (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, and multi-method) if they are conducted in outpatient care settings, ambulatory care, or primary care settings (emergency departments, urgent care centres, community clinics) with parents, family caregivers, or legal guardians of children (0-18 years) with medical complexity. Studies must present parents self-reported experiences and/or information needs related to the management of their child with medical complexity. MethodsA health research librarian will develop and implement search strategies in the following electronic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid PsycINFO, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text via EBSCOhost to identify relevant evidence. Two reviewers will independently screen and categorize identified records based on titles and abstracts (Stage 1). The full text of relevant records will then be screened independently by two reviewers (Stage 2). Quality assessments and data extraction of the included records will be done in duplicate using standardized forms. Disagreements will be resolved through third-party adjudication. The Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018 (MMAT) will be used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Data analysis will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) convergent integrated approach, whereby quantitative and qualitative data will be synthesized simultaneously. SummaryFindings from this review may be utilised by healthcare providers and policy makers to enhance parents experiences and support the care of children with medical complexity in emergency settings. These findings may also inform the development of knowledge translation resources (e.g., videos, infographics) for parents, as well as educational tools or interventions for healthcare providers working in emergency departments. Review RegistrationThe a priori protocol for this mixed methods systematic review was registered with PROSPERO on April 26, 2024 (PROSPERO CRD42024534701).