PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Elizabeth MM Bernthal
AU  - J Lathlean
AU  - M Gobbi
AU  - RG Simpson
TI  - Mothers’ decision-making during times of stress as a lone parent: a qualitative study
AID  - 10.1136/jramc-2015-000526
DP  - 2015 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
PG  - i26--i33
VI  - 161
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/161/Suppl_1/i26.short
4100  - http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/161/Suppl_1/i26.full
SO  - J R Army Med Corps2015 Dec 01; 161
AB  - Introduction Little empirical evidence exists to identify the impact that a partner's absence or presence has on the mother's decision-making and her consequential help-seeking behaviour when her child is unwell.Methods This study used a qualitative design in three phases using focus groups and interviews to explore Army mothers’ help-seeking behaviour as a lone parent when their child was unwell during the out-of-hours period. Thirty-one parents from a British Army garrison were interviewed.Results The findings demonstrated that Army life created a combination of stressors for Army mothers, which altered their help-seeking behaviour when their child was unwell. When their partner was available, mothers contacted health services as a last resort, once all other avenues had been exhausted. However, in contrast, in their partners’ absence, they were contacted as a first resort.Conclusion An algorithm was generated from the findings, which illustrates the importance of ascertaining whether the mother is alone at the time of the consultation. Increased emotional vulnerability intensified the need for reassurance and affected a mother's decision-making ability. Primary healthcare staff should ascertain whether mothers are currently lone parents at an early stage of their assessment, as this may influence the entire consultation.