Search

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This paper aims to highlight the evolution of informed consent in medical practice in general and pediatric practice in particular, as well as current international regulations on the involvement of children in decision-making. Material and methods: A literature review was conducted from Pub Med, Proquest Central, Scopus Elsevier, and Springer Link Journal databases for the period 2001 - 2022. Outcomes: Informed consent is the process by which clinical staff obtains patients' permission to perform invasive procedures. Serious discussions about the meaning and ethics of informed consent began in medicine, research, law, and philosophy only around 1972. For a pediatric patient, a natural response in medical decision making is to delegate authority to the parent or caregiver who is supervising them. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on involving the child in decisionmaking. The principle of autonomy is essential when discussing informed consent. Leading organizations in Australia, the UK, and the US have developed recommendations on involving children in decision-making. Pediatricians should share medical information with children and their families in ways that are helpful and empowering. This information should be complete, honest, and unbiased. However, these recommendations have no specific, non-prescriptive references, which demonstrate that in practice there is very little established practice of telling children the truth. Conclusions: this subject will always remain an extremely sensitive and challenging one for professionals, who will have to use all their knowledge and skills to ensure high-quality care for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background.: Achieving optimal outcomes for children in occupational therapy settings is influenced, in part, by their engagement. The nature of child engagement from the occupational therapy perspective remains relatively unexplored. Method.: A qualitative research methodology was adopted, using an interpretive description approach. Thirty-two occupational therapists participated in five focus groups and six individual interviews that were thematically analyzed. Findings.: Four themes emerged from the data: (i) signs of child engagement and disengagement; (ii) it's about the child feeling safe; (iii) a sense of meaning and purpose; and (iv) service and therapist factors influencing child engagement. Implications.: Helping the child feel safe; providing meaningful experiences; and being flexible and responsive were key means of connecting with, and supporting, child engagement. Strategies occupational therapists reportedly used to engage the child aligned with the tenets of self-determination theory (autonomy, relatedness, and competence). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]