Medical procedures in children using a conceptual framework that keeps a focus on human dimensions of care – a discussion paper

Abstract

Purpose: Children’s perspectives in the context of health service delivery have historically been seen as unimportant. They have been viewed as unintelligent, unable to effectively share or tell of their experiences or fully participate in their care, potentially resulting in a sense of dehumanisation.Method: The present paper illustrates children’s experiences when undergoing medical procedures, using application of the eight dimensions of humanised care theoretical framework.Results: Findings from six published papers were reflectively interrogated to identify implicit findings related to the dimensions of humanised care. These implicit findings show ways of caring for childrenwhichcan lead to enhanced human sensitivity in care or conversely where the dimensions of being human are obscured to greater or lesser degrees and can result in forms of dehumanisation.Conclusions: Inadvertent dehumanising features of practice can be mediated by encouraging the inclusion of children’s own lifeworld perspective and make room for their voices in both care and research. In this way the present well documented power imbalance could be addressed. Adding the value of the theoretical framework highlights areas of need for young children to be cared for as human beings.

Stressful Experiences of Parents in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit: Searching for the Most Intensive PICU Stressors

“…These results clearly indicate that PICU work structure needs to be organized in a way that allows parents to spend as much time as possible with their sick child as well as actively participate in the care of the child, so that their parental role deviates as little as possible from the usual one [ 14 ]. Many studies confirm the importance of parents being present and participating in health care of their child [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Also, many benefits of parental presence during invasive procedures in the PICU have also been reported for both the child and parents, including presence during resuscitation, regardless of the outcome [ 43 ].…”

“…Parental comfort, tenderness, and parent-child closeness are extremely important to the parents [ 40 ]. If children are separated from their parents, everyday social ties are disturbed, and naturally, children and parents can feel lonely and alienated [ 42 ].…”

Children's rights as law in Sweden–every health‐care encounter needs to meet the child's needs

“…Use of an ethical framework may be helpful in order to offer humane care to children by seeing the child as a unique individual 40 . Children's perspectives need to be taken into account, and children need help to create context and comprehensibility while receiving health care 41 . True child‐centred care requires involvement, strong leadership and economic support 36 .…”

Young children’s experiences of support when fearful during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia—A longitudinal interview study

“…In the hospital environment, the children described these aspects in terms of play therapy, hospital clowns, distracting décor and professionals joking with them. Previous research has highlighted the benefit of distraction (Bray et al, 2019) as well as the importance of play for children who are ill (Depianti et al, 2018;Enskär et al, 1997;Gariépy & Howe, 2003;Karlsson et al, 2019;Lindeke et al, 2006). Play is important for children's general development and health (Rejane Rolim Gomes et al, 2018).…”