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Systematic ReviewResearchPatient Education

Children's participation in nursing care depends on trust, information, and context

Journal of pediatric nursing (PubMed)Sep 12, 2026

AI-summarized from the linked source. Educational brief, not medical advice.

Brief summary

A qualitative systematic review found that children's participation in nursing care was shaped by the child-nurse relationship, the child-parent-professional decision process, access to developmentally appropriate information, and the care environment.

What NurseJet pulled from the source

The review synthesized 20 qualitative studies published from 2002 through 2025. Evidence came mainly from school-aged children and adolescents, and adult dominance often limited involvement to smaller decisions.

Why this matters for nurses

Pediatric participation is more than asking a child a single question. The synthesis highlights how relationships, information, family-professional dynamics, and the environment can either support or restrict a child's voice.

Bedside takeaway

Support pediatric participation with trust, age-appropriate information, and space for the child's own expression.

Key takeaways

  • Trust, familiarity, and supportive communication were linked to opportunities for children to express their views.
  • Developmentally appropriate information helped children understand and engage in care.
  • Nonverbal expression, play, and child-friendly environments also influenced participation experiences.

Practice implications

  • Use developmentally appropriate explanations, invite verbal or nonverbal preferences when feasible, and include the child within the family-professional conversation while following the local consent and assent process.

Limitations & cautions

  • Abstract-only summary. The synthesis was qualitative, and the included evidence predominantly reflected school-aged children and adolescents, with limited evidence about younger children.
  • AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations

Exact source links

Public citations are filtered to exact credible source pages. Homepage-only or invalid links stay in admin review and are not shown here.

Journal of pediatric nursing (PubMed)

Journal of pediatric nursing (PubMed). Exploring children's participation in nursing care: A qualitative systematic review.

Open original source

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42731542/

Professional education only

This summary does not replace clinical judgment, facility policy, provider orders, or official guidelines. Verify practice changes against the original source and local protocol.

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