Imelda Coyne1. 1. School of Nursing & Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, 24 D'Olier Street, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. coynei@tcd.ie
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The past decade has seen a growing recognition in Ireland and internationally that children and young people have a right to participate in matters that affect their lives. OBJECTIVES: To critique the research literature on children's, parents and healthcare professionals' experiences of children's participation in consultations and decision-making within the healthcare setting. METHOD: The literature was obtained from electronic databases, books, and journals focusing on work published in between 1993 and 2007. RESULTS: Despite the importance of consulting with sick children, their views are rarely sought nor acknowledged within the healthcare setting. Children are rarely involved in decision-making process and appear to occupy a marginalized position in healthcare encounters. Healthcare professionals and parents play a significant influence on whether children's efforts to participate are facilitated and supported in the hospital setting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for further research to explore health professionals' and parents' perspectives on children's participation in consultations and decision-making, as clearly they have reservations/concerns about children's active involvement in such matters. This information could be used to develop guidelines that will assist professionals and parents in facilitating and supporting children's participation.
BACKGROUND: The past decade has seen a growing recognition in Ireland and internationally that children and young people have a right to participate in matters that affect their lives. OBJECTIVES: To critique the research literature on children's, parents and healthcare professionals' experiences of children's participation in consultations and decision-making within the healthcare setting. METHOD: The literature was obtained from electronic databases, books, and journals focusing on work published in between 1993 and 2007. RESULTS: Despite the importance of consulting with sick children, their views are rarely sought nor acknowledged within the healthcare setting. Children are rarely involved in decision-making process and appear to occupy a marginalized position in healthcare encounters. Healthcare professionals and parents play a significant influence on whether children's efforts to participate are facilitated and supported in the hospital setting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for further research to explore health professionals' and parents' perspectives on children's participation in consultations and decision-making, as clearly they have reservations/concerns about children's active involvement in such matters. This information could be used to develop guidelines that will assist professionals and parents in facilitating and supporting children's participation.
Authors: Katharina Maria Ruhe; Tenzin Wangmo; Eva De Clercq; Domnita Oana Badarau; Marc Ansari; Thomas Kühne; Felix Niggli; Bernice Simone Elger Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2016-08-01 Impact factor: 3.183