Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
Inge Schalkers,Clair Enthoven, Hester Rippen, Joske Bunders and Christine Dedding
De Hart & Vaatgroep, Netherland
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Pediatr Ther
Children are not just small adults; they need to be diagnosed and treated in the context of their rapid growth and development. However, in guideline development, childrenā??s needs and interests are still overlooked. This study aims to develop a tool that could stimulate guideline developers to take children into account on a more structural basis and to explore how to facilitate childrenā??s participation in the process of guideline development. A three-phase multimethod sequential study design was used. Professionals involved in guideline development participated in interviews (n=12), filled in a questionnaire (n=60) and/or participated in the focus group meeting (n=11). The study results in a comprehensive understanding of the considerations that professionals take into account when deciding whether guidelines need to apply to children specifically. This resulted into a tool that assists guideline developers to make this assessment more accurately. It takes the form of a flowchart that guides users through a series of critical questions. The flowchart reminds guideline developers to consider children as a particular patient population when prioritizing and demarcating new guideline topics. It will help to ensure that clinical guidelines address childrenā??s unique health care needs and perspectives. Facilitating childrenā??s and parentā??s participation in the process of guideline development is perceived as challenging; nevertheless, it should be the next step in making paediatric guidelines more child-centred and family-centred
Inge Schalkers has obtained her PhD degree in 2016 with the dissertation entitled “Quality of Paediatric Hospital Care. Understanding the Perspectives of Children and Families”. Now she works as a Policy Advisor for ‘De Hart &Vaatgroep’, a Dutch patient organisation representing the interests of people with cardiovascular diseases. Her area of interest lies in the organisation of patient participation in cardiovascular research.
E-mail: i.schalkers@hartenvaatgroep.nl