Parent advisory groups in pediatric practices - Parents' and professionals' perceptions

Objective: To describe the benefits perceived by parents and professionals from their participation in parent advisory groups (PAGs). Design: Retrospective telephone survey. Setting: Parent advisory groups were established in 4 community-based pedia tric practices. Each group included parents of children with chronic health conditions, health care providers, and a Department of Public Health staff member. Participants: The mothers and fathers of children with chronic health condi tions completed a telephone survey. These parents also were enrolled in a b roader intervention aimed at providing primary care for children with chron ic conditions. Intervention: Groups met regularly in the pediatric office setting. Logisti cal arrangements and activities varied among the 4 groups. Main Outcome Measures: Parents and profession- als rated their perceptions of the PAGs based on a structured list of potential benefits. Results: Mothers viewed the PAGs as most beneficial in diminishing their is olation, helping them to understand family concerns, increasing their influ ence on the pediatric care provided to their children, and improving their knowledge of community resources. Professionals believed that the PAGs enha nced their awareness of common family needs, increased their skills at coll aborating with families, and helped them to feel more effective. All profes sionals and most parents were interested in continuing their involvement in a FAG. Conclusions: Parent advisory groups may benefit families and professionals who care for them by (1) fostering collaborative relationships and communic ation, (2) increasing a sense of social support among families, (3) increas ing families' knowledge of community-based resources, and (4) increasing th e families' sense of efficacy and involvement in the care of their own and others' children.