Parental preferences for risk communication during pediatric infectious disease outbreaks: a mixed-methods study from the netherlands

Pediatric infectious disease outbreaks, including invasive group A streptococcal disease, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and pertussis, underscored the need for effective risk communication strategies that engage parents. Such strategies allow parents to assess risks, make informed health decisions and take appropriate actions for their children. Despite the central role parents play in child health decision-making, limited research exists on their preferences for receiving information during infectious disease outbreaks. This study aims to address this gap by examining parental risk communication preferences, focusing on trusted sources, preferred channels, and message characteristics. A sequential mixed-methods study, consisting of a survey and qualitative semi-structured interviews, was conducted between October and December 2024, in The Hague, the Netherlands, with parents of children aged 0–12 years, as part of a larger project on changing epidemiological patterns in paediatric infectious diseases. Participants were recruited from a children’s hospital, eight primary schools, and a child healthcare clinic. The survey assessed parents’ outbreak awareness, and preferences regarding sources, channels, formats, and health information content. Interviews were conducted with a purposively sampled subset of parents until thematic saturation was reached for an in-depth exploration of risk communication preferences. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seventy eight parents completed the survey. Parents preferred to receive information from healthcare professionals and government or public health authorities. Preferred communication channels included government or public health platforms, news media and healthcare institutions. Parents favored news items, emails, short videos, and printed materials as formats. They prioritized information on symptoms, preventive measures and when to seek care. Four themes emerged from the eight interviews: (1) the need for a centralized, verified, and accessible platform for risk information during disease outbreaks; (2) multimodal and multilingual communication to promote inclusivity; (3) coordinated multi-source messaging with tiered information delivery; and (4) transparent communication to enhance preparedness and reduce uncertainty and fear. Parents preferred risk communication from trusted sources, delivered through multiple communication channels and using multimodal formats tailored to parental preferences. They also expressed a need for a centralized platform where reliable information could be easily accessed. These findings identify communication strategies that may support parental preparedness and reduce uncertainty during pediatric infectious disease outbreaks, and may inform institutional and national preparedness strategies.