Supporting treatment adherence and resilience in kids (STAR KIDS): A qualitative needs assessment protocol

Objective Suboptimal adherence to long-term treatment is a major challenge in paediatric care, contributing to preventable morbidity and reduced quality of life. In Singapore, local evidence is limited, and findings from other settings may not reflect the unique cultural and healthcare context. The STAR KIDS study aims to explore barriers, facilitators, and solution-oriented suggestions from children with chronic conditions, their parents, and healthcare professionals, to inform the design of feasible, contextually appropriate interventions. Methods STAR KIDS uses a qualitative needs assessment at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore. Participants include children with asthma, eczema, or cardiac conditions requiring long-term warfarin therapy, their parents, and relevant healthcare professionals. Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model, are conducted flexibly to prioritise participant-relevant issues. Thematic analysis combines deductive COM-B–informed coding with inductive approaches. Children and parents complete multiple interviews over 6 months, while healthcare professionals complete single interviews. Implications This protocol provides a transparent, theory-informed framework for exploring paediatric treatment adherence. Inclusion of multiple stakeholders, longitudinal engagement, and treatment-specific focus enables comprehensive capture of adherence challenges and participant-informed solutions. The approach supports evidence generation for future intervention development whilst offering a transferable methodological model for paediatric adherence research. Conclusion STAR KIDS establishes a rigorous, stakeholder-centred approach to studying paediatric treatment adherence, designed to provide insights that can inform future strategies to support children, families, and healthcare providers in managing chronic conditions effectively.