Small Choices, Big Implications: A Thematic Analysis of Parental Decision-Making in Minor Pediatric Health Issues

Background: In an age where digital platforms shape health-related behaviors, parents frequently turn to online communities to seek, validate, or challenge health information concerning their children. Minor pediatric health concerns, such as supplement use, over-the-counter treatments, and natural remedies, are often influenced by peer narratives rather than professional advice.Objective: To explore how parents make health decisions about minor pediatric issues by analyzing discussions from public online platforms through qualitative thematic analysis.Methods: A total of 120 discussion threads and 450 user comments were collected from parenting forums, blogs, and open-access social media groups between January 2023 and April 2024. Data were coded and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework. Inter-coder reliability was confirmed using Cohen’s kappa (κ=0.82).Results: Four core themes were identified: (1) Trust Hierarchies – parents toggled between medical and peer advice; (2) Brand Influence – social proof shaped product preferences; (3) Risk Perception – decision-making varied with child’s age and symptom severity; (4) Information Chaos – contradictory content online caused confusion and anxiety.Conclusions: Parents are increasingly navigating pediatric health decisions within a complex digital information ecosystem. Their reliance on online narratives, brand reputation, and perceived safety underscores the need for better health communication strategies and digital health literacy interventions tailored to caregivers.