摘要
Abstract
Background The increasing concern about height among normal children and their families aggravates the burden on medical resources and the potential for growth hormone abuse.Objective This study aims to explore the reasons for seeking medical attention in endocrine clinics among families with children of normal height who feel short stature and their demand for non-medical interventions,which can provide insights for developing targeted intervention measures for families with children of normal height.Methods Purposive sampling method was used in this study,and the sample size was determined based on the principle of information saturation.From April to July 2024,parents who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital,with a complaint of"perceived short stature"and seeking growth hormone therapy but whose children were medically diagnosed with normal height,were collected for semi-structured in-depth personal interviews.The interview outline focused on the reasons,goals and non-medical interventions of children with normal height in endocrinology department,and the data were analyzed by the thematic framework analysis.Results This study ultimately included 24 families,comprising 28 individuals.The age range of the interviewees was 30 to 53 years,with 10 males and 18 females.The main reasons for parents bringing their children to seek medical attention are as follows:socio-cultural factors(social pressures and expectations,educational competitive pressures,media influences,relationships and social comparisons,cultural values,etc.),knowledge and information factors(misunderstanding of the role of growth hormone,recommendations of medical institutions and doctors,pollyanna attitude towards medicine),parental factors(personal emotions and pressures of parents,herd mentality,parental responsibility),and children's factors(occupation planning,consideration of genetic factors,marriage and childbearing considerations,children's mental health,etc.).The goals of parents include their children's height reach or exceed the average level.Parents often attempt self-interventions such as diet,sleep,and exercise,but adherence issues arise during implementation.The primary channels for parents to obtain medical information include healthcare professionals,friends and family,as well as online media.Parents have a great need for information regarding professional knowledge on growth and development,selection of nutritional supplements,and non-pharmacological therapies.Conclusion This study uncovers the multifaceted reasons why parents of children with normal height seek medical attention in endocrine clinics to improve their children's height,includes socio-cultural factors,knowledge and information factors,parental and children factors.Moreover,it is not enough for such families to seek information on non-medical interventions themselves,which reminds us that it is significant to develop personalized non-medical interventions for them.关键词
身高/儿童健康/正常身高儿童/医务人员/就医原因/信息需求/干预措施/定性研究Key words
Body height/Child health/Children of normal height/Medical staff/Reasons for seeking medical attention/Information needs/Intervention measures/Qualitative research分类
医药卫生
