GENERAL ASSESSMENT
How would you describe your child’s health right now?
Compared with other children, how healthy would you say your child is?
What does it mean for you to say that your child is “healthy”?
How do you describe good health in your family?
Do you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health, growth, or development?
How important is it to you to have a regular health care provider?
BELIEF THAT HEALTH PRACTICES AFFECT HEALTH STATUS
What do you know about this current condition? What caused it? What can you do about it? What can you do to prevent it?
Has your child had a problem like this before?
How do you expect your child to respond when sick? To this sickness? What have you done for it in the past?
What do you do, or have you done that you believe makes a difference in how your child responds to illness?
What things can you do to help your child cope with being sick? What kinds of feelings do you have when confronted with sudden changes in plans or disruption of normal routine caused by illness in the family? How do you deal with those feelings?
How do you think those feelings affect the way you handle your child’s health and illness?
DECISION-MAKING
What do you do when your child has health problems? What makes you decide to call your health care provider or take your child in for an examination?
Who makes decisions about health care in your family?
How do you make those decisions? Do you talk things over? Do you get advice from others?
Why do you think that you make decisions in that way?
What are the most important things that you consider when deciding about your child’s health care?
What is most difficult for you when you must make decisions related to your child’s health?
Health behaviors and use of resources
Do you have a regular health care provider for your child? When did you see that person last?
What health care resources are available to you? Is there a primary care provider you can get to conveniently? Clinics? Pharmacies?
What have you done to protect your child from injuries?
There has been much focus on healthy lifestyles, such as eating right and exercising. What does your family do regularly to stay healthy?
Does anyone in your family (adolescents, you) smoke, drink, or use drugs? How often? What kind? Are there other things that your family does that you think are bad for your children’s health?
Who cares for your child when you are not at home and the child is not in school?
What helps you learn about health problems and how to take care of them— talking to others, reading, using the Internet, watching videos?
For this illness:
How are you managing a household, work, school, and other childcare responsibilities? What is most difficult for you?
Having sick children can create a financial strain on families. Is this a problem for your family?
What is the most difficult part? How comfortable do you feel managing this illness?
Have you had experience in the past that helps you manage?
ENVIRONMENT
Do you use booster seats, seatbelts, or child restraints for your child when riding in a car?
Where does your child play? Do you believe it is safe?
Have you gone over personal safety with your child (e.g., “saying no”)?
Is your home childproof? If you have firearms, are they unloaded and locked? Is ammunition locked separately? Are pools fenced and gated?
How do you heat or cool your home? Is it comfortable?
Is there any danger of falls?
Is your child dressed warmly for cold weather?
Do you have a working smoke alarm?
What would you do if your child had a health emergency?
Do you have a car, or is there a friend, family member, or neighbor close by who could help you?
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
What does it mean for you to say that your child is “healthy”?
How did you feel when your child’s problem was diagnosed? What did you do? What coping strategies do you use as you care for your child?
How has managing a chronic illness changed your family’s functioning? How does your family function?
Who is providing specialty care to your child? Do you believe this is adequate? What other special needs do you believe your child has that require care?
How comfortable are you in providing home care?
How are your child’s regular health needs met (i.e., those not directly related to the chronic illness, such as immunizations)?
What resources do you know about that can help you understand and manage your child’s illness?
What special physical arrangements have you made to accommodate your child’s illness? At home? In the car? At school or daycare?
