How paediatric departments in Sweden facilitate giving children a voice on their experiences of healthcare

A cross‐sectional study

Bibliographic Data

ID19508792
AuthorsAnna Nordlind (0000-0002-6325-920X, Faculty of Medicine and Health Örebro University Örebro Sweden, corresponding author), Ann‐Sofie Sundqvist (0000-0002-9002-6145, Faculty of Medicine and Health University Health Care Research Centre, Örebro University Örebro Sweden), Agneta Anderzén‐Carlsson (0000-0001-7352-8234, Faculty of Medicine and Health University Health Care Research Centre, Örebro University Örebro Sweden), Ann‐Charlotte Almblad (0000-0003-3570-5492, Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden), Karin Ängeby (0000-0001-7729-7912, Centre for Clinical Research Region Värmland, Karlstad Sweden)
Year2022
Volume25
Issue1
Pages384-393
Publication date2022-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.13396
PMID34856647
OpenAlexW3217613342
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited32

BACKGROUND: In January 2020, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was incorporated into Swedish law. According to Swedish regulations, patients are to be given the opportunity to participate in quality improvement. Sometimes, the patients are children who have the right to be heard on matters concerning them, such as their experience of a hospital visit. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe how Swedish paediatric departments facilitate children's voices on their healthcare experiences and how their perspectives are taken into account in quality improvement work. METHODS: This study has a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a study-specific survey sent by e-mail to all the heads of the paediatric departments in Sweden, with both inpatient and outpatient care. The response rate was 74% (28 of 38 departments). RESULTS: The results demonstrated a variation in questionnaires used and to whom they were targeted; less than half of the participating departments reported having had questionnaires aimed at children. The results also indicated a major variation in other working methods used to allow children to voice their experiences in Swedish paediatric departments. The results indicate that the national co-ordination in facilitating the children's rights to be heard on their experiences in healthcare organisations can be improved. CONCLUSION: Further research is required to ascertain which method is the most practically effective in paediatric departments, in what way children prefer to be heard regarding their experience of and perspectives on healthcare, and what questions need to be asked. A validated national patient-reported experience measure developed with and aimed at children could provide them with equal opportunities to voice their experiences in healthcare, regardless of their diagnoses or which paediatric department they visit

Cross-sectional study · Family medicine · Health care · Political science · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Medicine · Nursing

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