Negotiating child health care routines during paediatrician-parent conversations

Paediatrician-parent conversation is examined, using an adapted Bargaining Process Analysis coding scheme to determine how interactants sustain traditional roles versus encourage mutual involvement. Findings demonstrate that paediatricians rely on use of requests, whereas parents often use confirming messages. During interactions in which parents present specific concerns to paediatricians who address those concerns, parents use more requests than in situations where no specific concerns are voiced by parents. Moreover, during conversations when parents do not raise concerns, paediatricians are less confirming and parents more confirming than in the situations where parents present issues. The discussion acknowledges that many options exist to promote involvement other than those observed in this project. Change may create more opportunities to discuss areas of misunderstanding or disagreement regarding child care and development.