TY - JOUR
AU - A. Kabir
AU - S. Loveday
AU - H. Hiscock
AU - R. Bosward
AU - W. Ebbett
AU - H. Liu
AU - N. White
AU - L. Chen
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant contributors to the burden of disease and remain a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of children in Australia. To address ACEs, we co-designed and implemented two integrated health and social care hubs (Child and Family Hubs [CFHs]). This study explores the experiences of caregivers who received care from the CFHs, including the way they were asked about ACEs and the services offered to address identified ACEs. DESIGN: A qualitative study design was used. Using a semistructured interview guide, 29 in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who were experiencing a range of adversities, including maltreatment and household dysfunction, child neglect, parent mental illness, domestic violence, family conflict, community dysfunction, discrimination, poverty or financial hardship. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse textual data. Triangulation of investigators and sources of data improved validation of the findings. NVivo (V.12) was used to organise, index and retrieve data. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in two Child and Family Hubs (CFHs) in Australia-IPC Health, Wyndham Vale, Melbourne, and Marrickville Health Centre, Sydney, between May and October 2023. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=29) were the caregivers of children living with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). RESULTS: Four themes were identified which reflected the caregivers' experiences of being asked about adversities and how they linked to the support and services both in the CFHs and outside the CFH. These themes were as follows: (i) trusting relationships are fundamental; (ii) expectations play a role in talking about adversities; (iii) barriers to open discussion of adversities and (iv) barriers to accessing services. CONCLUSIONS: Consultations between caregivers and hub practitioners can effectively identify and address ACEs despite certain barriers. Establishing a trusting relationship where caregivers feel heard and supported is vital, highlighting the hub model's potential impact in Australia and similar contexts. Enhancing consultation duration, and service availability and accessibility may further improve caregivers' experiences in identifying and addressing adversity.
AD - Health Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia ashraful.kabir@mcri.edu.au.; Health Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.; The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.; Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.; The George Institute for Global Health, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia.
AN - 39909531
BT - BMJ Open
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 2
DA - Feb 5
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086710
DP - NLM
ET - 20250205
IS - 2
JF - BMJ Open
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant contributors to the burden of disease and remain a serious concern for the health and wellbeing of children in Australia. To address ACEs, we co-designed and implemented two integrated health and social care hubs (Child and Family Hubs [CFHs]). This study explores the experiences of caregivers who received care from the CFHs, including the way they were asked about ACEs and the services offered to address identified ACEs. DESIGN: A qualitative study design was used. Using a semistructured interview guide, 29 in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of children who were experiencing a range of adversities, including maltreatment and household dysfunction, child neglect, parent mental illness, domestic violence, family conflict, community dysfunction, discrimination, poverty or financial hardship. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse textual data. Triangulation of investigators and sources of data improved validation of the findings. NVivo (V.12) was used to organise, index and retrieve data. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in two Child and Family Hubs (CFHs) in Australia-IPC Health, Wyndham Vale, Melbourne, and Marrickville Health Centre, Sydney, between May and October 2023. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=29) were the caregivers of children living with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). RESULTS: Four themes were identified which reflected the caregivers' experiences of being asked about adversities and how they linked to the support and services both in the CFHs and outside the CFH. These themes were as follows: (i) trusting relationships are fundamental; (ii) expectations play a role in talking about adversities; (iii) barriers to open discussion of adversities and (iv) barriers to accessing services. CONCLUSIONS: Consultations between caregivers and hub practitioners can effectively identify and address ACEs despite certain barriers. Establishing a trusting relationship where caregivers feel heard and supported is vital, highlighting the hub model's potential impact in Australia and similar contexts. Enhancing consultation duration, and service availability and accessibility may further improve caregivers' experiences in identifying and addressing adversity.
PY - 2025
SN - 2044-6055
SP - e086710
ST - Caregivers' experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study
T1 - Caregivers' experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study
T2 - BMJ Open
TI - Caregivers' experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences and receiving support from an integrated health and social care hub: a qualitative study
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086710
VL - 15
VO - 2044-6055
Y1 - 2025
ER -