Understanding of Tic Disorders in Children and Adolescents and Perspectives on a Digital Intervention: A Qualitative Study Among Primary Care Professionals

Abstract

Primary care professionals are often the first line of support for children and adolescents with tic disorders. However, families often report feeling inadequately supported and perceive a lack of knowledge about tics. Few studies have examined primary care professionals’ perspectives on managing tic disorders. This study explored how these professionals understood and managed tic disorders in a Danish region. Twelve professionals, including general practitioners and educational psychologists, participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, resulting in three main themes. The first theme, Frontstage: Managing Care Needs in Practice, described how professionals addressed encounters with families affected by tics. The second theme, Behind the Scenes: Navigating Uncertainty and Complexity, captured reflections on managing a heterogeneous group of disorders, such as tic disorders. The third theme, Future Perspectives: Reframing the Stage for Tic Management in Primary Care, reflected professionals’ understanding of the diverse group affected by tics and their evaluation of a newly developed app-based intervention. These findings offer insights into primary care perspectives on tic disorders and clarify reasons for differences in their management. This knowledge is essential when planning interventions for tic disorders, whether through digital platforms or other approaches.

Plain Language Summary

Children and young people with tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, often first come into contact with general practitioners or educational psychologists. However, in studies, families reported feeling insufficiently supported in primary care and perceived a general lack of knowledge about tics among professionals in primary care. This study examined how some professionals understood and handled tic disorders in clinical practice. We interviewed 12 professionals working in primary care in one region of Denmark to learn about their experiences and challenges in working with children and families affected by tics. Through analysing the interviews, we identified three main themes evolving around tics: (1) Frontstage: Managing Care Needs in Practice showed how these professionals handled meetings with children and families with tic disorders, trying to provide the best support they could within their clinical setting. (2) Behind the Scenes: Navigating Uncertainty and Complexity highlighted their challenges. Tic disorders vary significantly between individuals, and many professionals felt unsure because they had limited practical knowledge and experience in this area. (3) Future Perspectives: Reframing the Stage for Tic Management in Primary Care reflected a shared understanding among professionals about the diverse needs of those with tic disorders. It also highlighted how a newly developed app could serve as a potential work tool and help professionals and families manage tics more effectively in daily life. These findings offered valuable insight into how primary care professionals saw tic disorders and why their ways of managing them may have differed. Understanding this is important when introducing new treatments or support systems, whether digital or traditional.