Search

Background: Children and young people (CYP) with complex neurodisability experience multiple physical, communication, educational and social challenges, which require complex packages of multidisciplinary care. Part of the holistic care required includes supporting the families and parents/caregivers. The aim of the wider study was to introduce a new programme ('Ubuntu') to parents/caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in order to test the feasibility and acceptability of the concept and content, with the goal of potential adaptation for the UK in mind. Data collection and analysis uncovered rich data on caregiving journeys, navigation of health services, and perceived service gaps. This paper focuses solely on these topics. Further papers will report on the feasibility and adaptation data. Methods: Two rounds of semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 caregivers of CYP with complex neurodisability and six HCPs from a variety of disciplines, recruited from a community child health service in London Borough of Newham, UK in 2020. The interviews included open‐ended questions to explore caregiving journeys, experiences of navigating health services and perceived service gaps. Transcripts were analysed using a data‐driven inductive thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified that related to the aim of understanding caregivers' experiences and unmet needs relating to current service provision. These were (1) Caregiver Mental Health, (2) The Information Gap and (3) The Need for Holistic Support. Mental health difficulties were reported, particularly around the period of diagnosis. Priority needs included the provision of clear information about the diagnosis and services offered, opportunities to forge peer support networks and for services across the community to collaborate. Conclusions: The delivery of health services for CYP with neurodisability should encompass the broad needs of the family as well as meeting the clinical needs of the CYP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the authors' insight on the impact of the sponsorship of paediatricians or paediatric societies by the baby feeding industry to their reputation and professional practice. Topics discussed include the importance of breastfeeding in child survival, the role of baby feeding companies in the promotion of breastmilk substitutes, and the spreading lobby pressure by infant formula and baby food manufacturers in emerging markets.

This article presents information about the journal's call for papers for a special issue planned for 2011 dealing with the topic of "Transition to adulthood for children with disabilities." Specifics about the submission of papers are supplied.

Presents calls for paper on quantitative and qualitative research papers relevant to people from all disciplines working in child health. Last date for submission of the papers; Contact address for sending the papers.

Presents topics in the field of child care on researchers can submit their research papers for publication in the journal 'Child Care, Health & Development.'

Background: Blended feeding has become increasingly prevalent in recent years with its practice gaining some momentum. With anecdotal reports of benefits and little evidence of harm in the literature regarding blended feeding, this scoping review was deemed important. The aim of this scoping review was to summarise the published evidence about blended feeding in gastrostomy‐fed children. Method: The scoping review methodology used included searches in specific online databases: PUBMED, PsychINFO, CINAHL, SCOPUS, AMED and EMBASE for articles that addressed issues pertaining to blended feeds in gastrostomy‐fed children. Grey literature was also considered. Inclusion criteria included papers that pertained to information and research on blended feeding in gastrostomy‐fed children. Studies published in English over the past 11 years (2011–2022) were included. This resulted in 59 papers being included in this scoping review. Results: Thematic analysis of the literature identified eight overall themes. It was clear that parents found blended feeding promoted the normalising of feeding, their own involvement in decision‐making around foods and promotion of a socially inclusive mealtime. The need for dietician and health professional input and support is key, whereas a lack of guidelines acts as a barrier to blended feeding. Furthermore, risks associated with blended feeding are identified but also the benefits to the physical well‐being of the child are considered. Conclusion: The review was comprehensive in that it identified a broad range of literature, exploring the extent, range and nature of research activity related to the use of blended feeds. The lack of original research is a concern. However, it is expected this review will provide direction for researchers, and in particular inform policy and practitioners working in the field where blended feeds may be an option for gastrostomy‐fed children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collaboration between therapists and parents of children with developmental disabilities is a key element of family‐centred care. In practice, collaboration appears to be challenging for both parents and therapists. This systematic review aims to make explicit how therapists can optimise their collaboration with parents of young children with developmental disabilities, according to the perspectives of parents and therapists. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: Medline (PubMed), CINAHL (OVID) and PsychINFO (OVID). Those papers were selected, which focused on collaboration using a two‐way interaction between therapists and parents, exploring the perspectives of therapists and/or parents of children between 2 and 6 years. Papers needed to be published in English or Dutch between 1998 and July 2021. Included papers were synthesised using a qualitative analysis approach by two researchers independently. Results sections were analysed line‐by‐line, and codes were formulated and discussed by all authors. Codes were aggregated, resulting in a synthesis of specific collaboration strategies in combined strategy clusters. Results: The search generated 3439 records. In total, 24 papers were selected. Data synthesis resulted in an overview of specific strategies organised into five clusters: (1) continuously invest time in your collaboration with parents, (2) be aware of your important role in the collaboration with parents, (3) tailor your approach, (4) get to know the family and (5) empower parents to become a collaborative partner. Conclusions: This systematic review resulted in an overview of concrete strategies for therapists to use in their collaboration with parents of children with developmental disabilities. The strategies formulated enable therapists to consciously decide how to optimise their collaboration with each individual parent. Making these strategies explicit facilitates change of practice from therapist‐led and child‐centred towards family‐centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mil Días (A Thousand Days) is a programme for the first thousand days of life, from gestation to 2 years of age, targeted at highly vulnerable children and/or mothers and pregnant women. The programme was implemented in August 2015 in the municipality of San Miguel, in Argentina. Mil Días is designed in a holistic and intersectoral way. The main form of intervention is through home visits, but other benefits are available depending on the 51 vulnerability criteria by which participants are admitted to the programme, most of which are related to health issues. Exits of the programme occur when the mother and/or child have reversed the deprivation/s of the entrance‐criteria. Methods: This paper provides an analysis of the programme's primary data between August 2015 and May 2019, with a total of 1,111 programme participants. First, we perform a statistical analysis of the targeted population of the programme. Second, using a logistic regression, we study factors associated to the withdrawal from the programme. Third, using survival analysis, we study the correlates of time to graduation from the programme. Results: We find that the programme is well‐targeted, as participants exhibit higher deprivation levels than those exhibited by beneficiaries of social programmes in general in the same municipality. We also find that programme participants in situations of most extreme vulnerability are more likely to abandon the programme and that successful exits from the programme take longer for more complex cases. Conclusions: Mil Días–San Miguel is a programme for early childhood development in Argentina, which was pioneer when it was first introduced. It is well targeted and exhibits encouraging results despite complex cases taking longer to sucessfully exit the programme. In addition, the poorest poor participants are more likely to abandon the programme and so additional actions could be taken to retain them, as intended by the 'Leave No One Behind' 2030 commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports part of a wider systematic review commissioned by the English National Safeguarding Panel on Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). The wider review covered three areas: interventions to improve safer sleep practices in high‐risk families, interventions to improve engagement with services and decision making by parents at high risk of SUDI about infant sleep environments. Here, we report the qualitative and quantitative studies reviewed under the engagement strand. Parental engagement is understood to be a multidimensional task for health and social care professionals comprising attitudinal, relational and behavioural components. Following a PROSPERO registered systematic review synthesizing the three strands outlined, 28 papers were found to be relevant in the review of interventions to improve engagement with services in families with children at risk of significant harm through abuse or neglect. No studies were found that specifically focused on engagement of families at high risk for SUDI, so these wider engagement studies were included. The different types of intervention reported in the included studies are described under two broad themes: Enablers (including parental motivation and working with families) and Barriers. Given the focus in the studies on interventions that support parental engagement, the Enablers theme is more extensive than the Barriers reported although all studies noted well‐understood barriers. The evidence underpinning these interventions and approaches are reviewed in this paper. We conclude that effective engagement is facilitated by experienced professionals given time to develop supportive non‐judgemental relationships with families in their homes, working long‐term, linking with communities and other services. While these conclusions have been drawn from wider studies aimed at reducing child maltreatment, we emphasize lessons to be drawn for SUDI prevention work with families with children at risk of significant harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "F‐words in childhood disability" (function, family, fitness, fun, friends, and future) were introduced in a concept paper in 2012 entitled, "The F‐words in childhood disability: I swear this is how we should think!". The "F‐words" are grounded in, and aim to operationalize, the World Health Organization's (World Health Organization, 2001) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. A citation analysis was conducted to explore the extent of research uptake of the "F‐words" concepts. Methods: Three databases—Google Scholar, Wiley Online, and Web of Science—were searched from July 2012 to December 2018 for sources that cited the original F‐words paper. Dates of publication and countries of first authors were extracted from all cited articles, and a taxonomy was developed to categorize the type of usage. Results: The search yielded 157 sources from 26 countries, and the number of citations has continued to increase since the paper's publication. Sources were placed into three categories: cited/referenced (n = 109; i.e., the paper was simply cited), integrated/informed (n = 36; i.e., the F‐words were stated within the text), and non‐English (n = 12). Of the 36 integrated/informed sources, 34 (94.4%) applied the F‐words to the ICF framework and five themes emerged with respect to the use of the F‐words: (a) support of a holistic approach to childhood disability, (b) association of the F‐words to physical activity and rehabilitation, (c) application and measurement of quality of life, (d) F‐words research team‐related papers, and (e) "other" category. Conclusion: This citation analysis shows that the F‐words are mainly being used to operationalize the ICF, support a holistic approach to childhood disability, and inform physical activity and rehabilitation‐based interventions. These perspectives will play an important role in informing the next steps with respect to moving the F‐words into research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Parenting programmes are at the heart of intervention strategies for parents of children with emotional and behaviour problems. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have indicated that such programmes can improve many aspects of family life. However, there is currently a dearth of information concerning what it is that makes parenting programmes meaningful and helpful to parents. The aim of this paper was to examine parents' experience and perceptions of parenting programmes using the meta-ethnographic method, in order to sensitize policymakers and practitioners to the key factors that parents perceive to be of value. Methods Systematic searches of a number of electronic databases were undertaken using key search terms. Critical appraisal of included studies was conducted using standardized criteria, and the reports were synthesized using meta-ethnographic methods. Results Six reports were purposefully selected and critically appraised independently by two reviewers. Two were excluded. Based on the remaining four papers, five key concepts were identified as important when planning and delivering parenting programmes. A lines-of-argument synthesis was developed which suggests that the acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding, together with feelings of acceptance and support from other parents in the parenting group, enabled parents to regain control and feel more able to cope. This led to a reduction in feelings of guilt and social isolation, increased empathy with their children and confidence in dealing with their behaviour. Conclusion This evaluation provides an indication of the components that parents perceive to be necessary in the provision of parenting programmes, independent of the particular type of programme being provided. It may therefore aid policymakers in decisions about which programmes to provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the individualized occupational performance issues identified by parents/carers and children prior to selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and analyse change up to 2 years post surgery in goal attainment and quality of life (QoL). Method: The Australian SDR Research Registry (trial registration: ACTRN12618000985280) was used to extract data for individualized goals, goal attainment and QoL based on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CP QOL‐Child parent‐proxy) at baseline and 1 and 2 years following SDR. Change in mean scores was analysed using linear mixed models. Results: Fifty‐two children had COPM scores at baseline and 1 and/or 2 years post, of which 28 had two QoL scores. COPM problem areas included leisure (n = 39), productivity (n = 37) and self‐care (n = 173). The most common goals were walking (26.1%), participation in physical activities (17.7%) and transitions (14.1%). Mean COPM scores improved significantly between baseline to 1 year and baseline to 2 years (P < 0.001). Mean QoL scores improved between baseline to 1 year for functional QoL domains: participation and physical health (P = 0.003) and pain and impact of disability (P = 0.011). Conclusions: Collaborative goal setting is an integral part of family‐centred rehabilitation practice. The COPM was an appropriate individualized outcome measure in identifying meaningful goals for our SDR cohort. Results demonstrate improved scores in goal attainment and improvement in functional QoL domains. This paper highlights the need to include outcomes that measure daily life experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence demonstrates that the mental and psychosocial health impacts of caring vary significantly for individual children, depending on who they are, the person that they care for, their responsibilities and the wider family situation. Although individual studies have made progress in identifying the range of impacts, there is a lack of clarity around which impacts affect who and in what circumstances. This synthesis, based on RAMESES realist protocols, aims to increase clarity concerning how and why the mental and psychosocial health impacts of caring for a family member vary for different children. There were 12 391 unique search results screened at title, abstract and full‐paper levels. Forty‐four retained studies were analysed, resulting in the development of a model with 17 context‐mechanism‐outcome configurations. The model divides the configurations into three interlinking domains. The caregiving responsibilities domain considers how the impacts of caring vary with the circumstances of the individual young carer, the person they care for and their family. The identity domain details the development of a caring identity that potentially mitigates the negative effects of caring and enables positive benefits. The support domain concerns the support provided from family, community and services that, depending on quality, can mitigate or exacerbate the impacts of caring. Support also moderates the care identity by affecting self‐perception of the caring role. The model has the potential to inform the development of interventions that target particular mechanisms to enable positive change for young carers. This potential can be enhanced by further research to test the model, with a focus on refining configurations where less evidence is available. There is a particular need to focus on identification which is under‐represented in the model as both a mechanism and a contextual factor due to unidentified young carers being largely absent from past research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory disease is a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths in young people with cerebral palsy (CP). It is insidious and multifactorial. Clinical management can be complex. This systematic review describes effects of interventions for the prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with CP. Methods: Nine databases (Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, EMCare, MEDLINE, PEDro, OpenGrey, ScienceDirect, and SpeechBITE) were searched. Eligibility criteria were as follows: the population included at least 50% individuals with CP aged under 26 years, the intervention was for chronic respiratory illness, the outcomes were any measurable indicators of respiratory health or morbidity; the study design could be any original study reporting effects of an intervention on measurable outcomes, and the study was published January 1998 or later. The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology guided study appraisal and synthesis. The review was registered with PROSPERO (reference number CRD42018086314). Results: The search yielded 3,347 papers; 37 papers (reporting 34 studies) of these met the eligibility criteria. They included 582 participants with CP (ranging from 1 to 77 across studies) with ages from 5 months to 25 years. Interventions were diverse and included: airway clearance techniques, exercise, positioning, mealtime management, salivary management, upper airway interventions, antibiotics, gastro‐intestinal interventions, and spinal surgery. There were no interventions aimed at prevention of respiratory disease in this population. Research designs were classified as Levels 2 (n = 3), 3 (n = 2), 4 (n = 25), and 5 (n = 4). Conclusions: Evidence for most respiratory interventions for young people with CP is absent or weak. No controlled trials demonstrated significant effects on respiratory morbidity, owing to their scarcity, weak designs, and inadequate power. There is an urgent need for well‐designed prospective controlled studies investigating prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, interest in the ethical and methodological challenges involved in conducting research with children has increased considerably. Researchers who work with children have to take into account children's intrinsic physical, mental and emotional vulnerability as well as their interdependence with other family members, particularly their parents. This is especially challenging in research that seeks to explore children's lived experience in relation to aspects of their family lives. Objective: We aimed to identify specific ethical issues and ways of overcoming challenges in conducting research with children on some aspects of their family lives. Methods: We conducted a scoping review according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Seventeen publications were selected for data extraction and synthesis, 4 of which were original studies and 13 reflexive papers. Results: Our results confirm that a research project that asks children about aspects of their family lives leads to a number of ethical tensions: While children depend on their parents and family to ensure that their safety and physical needs are met, they also greatly contribute to the development of family dynamics. We highlight methodological strategies that allow researchers to mitigate the ethical challenges that are inherent to this type of research. Discussion/conclusion: A promising approach is to use participative methods at each stage of research, including developing a trusting and triadic partnership that includes parents, children, a multidisciplinary research team and professional gatekeepers. Benefits as well as possible risks for participants should also be considered when children and their parents are engaged in a study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the increased risk of obesity for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), recent guidelines recommend that dietary intake is carefully managed. Parents play an important role in the development of their child's eating behaviours and patterns. However, despite what is known about the increased risk of obesity for children with DMD, little is known about parental feeding behaviours in this population. The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore the experiences of parents of children with DMD around their child's weight management and understand what influences their feeding behaviours. Methods: This paper reports a secondary data analysis. Semi‐structured, individual interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative description. Results: Thirteen parents were interviewed for the study. Three themes were developed: (1) parent responses to healthcare provider interactions, (2) mixed emotions contributing to feeding approach and (3) variable parenting feeding styles. Within the third theme, two subthemes arose including (1) control and preoccupation and (2) striking a balance. Conclusion: Given the potential impact of higher weights on the progression of DMD, it is important that healthcare providers explore feeding behaviours with families. However, it is essential that healthcare providers consider the impact of these conversations on parents, as well as the broader issues that may place additional pressure on the lives of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Numbers of looked-after children and young people (LACYP) in the UK have risen over the last seven years. Looked-after children and young people should receive regular health assessments, including establishing immunization status and, if needed, developing a health plan to achieve full immunization. The Department for Education publish data on immunizations among LACYP to monitor both how well they are immunized and service performance. Methods A literature review was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) on immunization status of LACYP, factors affecting uptake and challenges to immunization, and interventions to improve immunization rates. Results Thirty-two papers were identified, 16 of which were UK based. Looked-after children and young people are less likely to be 'up-to-date' with their immunizations than children in the general population. Looked-after children and young people are less likely to receive timely immunizations, and older LACYP are less likely to be 'up-to-date' than younger LACYP. Barriers to immunization include failure to attend health checks, absence from school and frequent placement moves. Unknown and discrepant immunization histories, name changes, sharing of information between organizations and obtaining consent for immunizations are also challenges. Conclusions In recent years, immunization of LACYP has been given a higher priority. However, the immunization figures produced by the Department for Education are problematic because of challenges in determining whether the child is 'up-to-date', and data are not comparable with the general population; ideally, this should be changed to correspond to routine immunization data. In the interim, for reporting purposes, the use of a tool to assist with determining a child's immunization status would be beneficial. When a child's immunization status is incomplete or unknown, Public Health England's algorithm for vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete status should be used. Practice to improve immunization uptake amongst LACYP needs to be evaluated to develop evidence-based recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal parity, which is usually measured as the number of children born to a mother, has a substantial impact on the social and environmental factors around children and their development. This paper estimates the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) of 3‐ and 4‐year‐old children in Bangladesh and examines the relationship between maternal parity and early childhood development. Methods: The study analysed nationally representative data from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019. The dataset had 9453 children aged from 36 to 59 months. The ECDI was computed following the UNICEF's approach involving psychometric computation of four domains of development: physical, literacy‐numeracy, learning and social–emotional. Since the dataset has a hierarchical structure, we used multilevel logistic regression. Results: A quarter (25%) of the children were not on track in their early childhood development. Seventy‐one percent were not developmentally on track in the literacy‐numeracy domain, 27% were not in the social–emotional and smaller percentages were not in learning (9%) and physical (1%) domains. There was a significant negative association between maternal parity and ECDI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91–0.99). Attendance at early childhood education programmes was significantly associated with early childhood development (AOR 1.73; 95% CI: 1.47–2.03). Also, female children, those who were not stunted, located in rural areas, received parental stimulation activities, lived in relatively wealthy households or had mothers who had received secondary or further education were more likely than others to be on track of early childhood development. Conclusions: Early childhood development is negatively correlated with maternal parity. The literacy‐numeracy domain constitutes the major developmental delay. Programmes for parental awareness should be widely expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently in Australia, access to culturally safe developmental practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families has been enhanced by the availability of a culturally appropriate developmental screening tool, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire – Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ‐TRAK). This paper aims (i) to describe the uptake of the ASQ‐TRAK developmental screening tool in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations and mainstream services in Australia and (ii) to explore the extent to which organizations using the ASQ‐TRAK have engaged training for staff. Methods: A retrospective review of ASQ‐TRAK sales and training records from January 2015 to May 2020 to determine the ASQ‐TRAK distribution by jurisdiction and service type and the number of services that have engaged training. Results: Five hundred ASQ‐TRAK kits have been distributed across 77 agencies. Of those, 100 kits (20%) have been purchased by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations. Most have been distributed in the Northern Territory (NT) (178, 36%), Western Australia (165, 33%) and South Australia (64, 13%). Of the 15 ASQ‐TRAK training workshops, nine have been in the NT. Of the 196 practitioners trained, 25 were identified as facilitators for their organization. Conclusion: Despite substantive research translation across Australia, with evidence of its acceptability in different contexts, most Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations have not yet accessed the ASQ‐TRAK, and most organizations have not participated in training. There is an imperative to progress knowledge translation to improve quality and accessibility of culturally appropriate developmental care. Adequately resourced ASQ‐TRAK implementation support is needed to ensure sustainable implementation at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and young people with long‐term conditions (LTCs) are usually dependent on, or share management with, their families and are expected to develop self‐management skills as they mature. However, during adolescence, young people can find it challenging to follow prescribed treatment regimens resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Though reviews have looked at children's and parents' experiences of self‐management, none have explicitly examined the parent‐to‐child transfer of self‐management responsibility. Methods: An integrative review was conducted with the aim of exploring the parent‐to‐child transfer of LTC self‐management responsibility, through addressing two questions: (a) How do children assume responsibility from their parents for self‐management of their LTC? (b) What influences the parent‐to‐child transfer of this responsibility? Eight databases were searched for papers published from 1995 to 2017. Methodological quality was assessed; included papers were synthesized to identify themes. Results: Twenty‐nine papers were identified. Most papers used qualitative designs and focused on children with diabetes. Participants were predominantly children and/or parents; only two studies included health professionals. Assuming self‐management responsibility was viewed as part of normal development but was rarely explored within the context of the child gaining independence in other areas of their life. Children and parents adopted strategies to help the transfer, but there was limited evidence around health professionals' roles and ambivalence around what was helpful. There was a lack of clarity over whether children and parents were aiming for shared management, or self‐management, and whether this was a realistic or desired goal for families. Multiple factors such as the child, family, social networks, health professional, and LTC influenced how a child assumed responsibility. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that the parent‐to‐child transfer of self‐management responsibility is a complex, individualized process. Further research across childhood LTCs is needed to explore children's, parents', and professionals' views on this process and what support families require as responsibilities change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, there are approximately 70 million children, nearly 25% of the child population, who are left behind in the care of other family members when their parents migrate to urban areas, for increased economic opportunities. This paper presents a systematic review and a meta‐analysis of studies that have examined the phenomenon of depression among these left‐behind children (LBC). Methods: Six hundred three papers published between 2000 and 2017 were retrieved from five databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Weipu, PubMed, and Web of Science). Results: Twenty‐one studies (18 in Chinese and 3 in English) met the criteria for inclusion in this meta‐analysis. The pooled estimate of depression among LBC was 26.4%. A significant heterogeneity has been found in reported findings, and this heterogeneity was associated with three types of study characteristics, including using an unclear definition of LBC and using invalidated depression instruments, and the geographic location. Conclusions: The risk of mental health problems among this large number of LBC suggests the need to quantify the extent and distribution of their mental health state. Implications for methodological improvements for future research have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: As increasing numbers of unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) are arriving in Europe, there is a need to investigate which factors promote psychological resilience and improve their mental health. This review aims to identify preventive post settlement influences, including living arrangements, access to mental health services, and effective treatments that may improve mental health outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted of published papers in any language for children (<18 years) entering a host country, unaccompanied and seeking asylum. Specific studies were eligible if they examined any treatment or nontreatment influences on mental health or psychological resilience for the URM. Thirteen published quantitative studies were identified. Results: URMs in more supportive living arrangements including foster care had lower risk of PTSD and lower depressive symptoms compared with those in semi‐independent care arrangements. URMs living in reception settings that restricted freedom had more anxiety symptoms. Regarding help seeking, one study found only 30% of URMs had foster parents or guardians who could detect a mental health need. Two papers found the URMs had low levels of contact with mental health services despite the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms. URMs were less likely than accompanied children to receive trauma‐focused interventions, cognitive therapy, or even practical assistance with basic social needs. With regard to treatment evaluation, only case series were identified. Three studies found cognitive behavioural therapy improved PTSD symptoms and mental health outcomes. A less structured approach (mental health counselling alone) did not improve functional health outcomes. Conclusion: Higher support living arrangements with low restrictions are associated with lower psychological distress. Most URMs are not receiving psychological interventions, and there is a dearth of studies evaluating treatment effectiveness for this group. There is an urgent need for more research to investigate pathways to mental health services and treatment efficacy in this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who enter public care are among the most vulnerable in society. In addition to services for their medical needs, a focus on identifying and intervening with families in need where children are at high risk of entering public care is a public health priority. This paper aims to identify the characteristics of children, their parents or their social circumstances which are associated with children entering public care. The databases searched were CSA Illumina, British Education Index, Child Data, CINAHL, Excerpta Medica, MEDLINE, the Campbell and Cochrane Collaborations, NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, NHS Evidence, Social Care Online and TRIP; from start dates to 7 February 2011. A total of 6417 titles were reviewed. After review, 10 papers with cohort or case-control methodologies met the inclusion criteria and the included papers were appraised using questions from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme to guide the critique of case-control and cohort studies. A narrative synthesis is used to describe the research identified. Socio-economic status, maternal age at birth, health risk factors and other factors including learning difficulties, membership of an ethnic minority group and single parenthood are described as risk factors associated with children entering public care. Health risk factors have been explored using databases developed for other purposes such as health insurance or hospital discharge. A number of risk factors for children entering public care are identified from the literature, some were culturally specific and may not generalize. The interaction between different risk factors needs testing in longitudinal data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children experiencing critical illness or injury may require admission to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to receive life‐sustaining or life‐saving treatment. Studies have explored the experience of parents with a child in PICU but tend to focus on subgroups of children or specific healthcare systems. Therefore, we aimed to undertake a meta‐ethnography to draw together the published research. Methods: A systematic search strategy was developed to identify qualitative studies, which had explored the experiences of parents with a critically ill child treated in a PICU. A meta‐ethnography was undertaken following the structured steps of identifying the topic; undertaking a systematic search; reading the research; determining how the studies relate and translate into each other; and synthesising and expressing the results. Results: We identified 2989 articles from our search and after a systematic series of exclusions, 15 papers remaining for inclusion. We explored the original parent voices (first order) and the interpretation of the study authors (second order) to identify three third‐order concepts (our interpretation of the findings), which related to technical, relational and temporal factors. These factors influenced parents' experiences, providing both barriers and facilitators to how parents and caregivers experienced the time their child was in the PICU. The dynamic and co‐constructed nature of safety provided an analytical overarching frame of reference. Conclusion: This synthesis demonstrates novel ways in which parents and caregivers can contribute to the vital role of ensuring a co‐created safe healthcare environment for their child when receiving life‐saving care within the PICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of screen time for young children has been hotly debated among experts. This study explored the utilization of screen time among mothers with young children during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to understand maternal motivation for utilizing screen time and how mothers have engaged in screen time since the beginning of the pandemic. Method: This paper uses a sample of n = 25 mothers who participated in an in‐depth interview about parenting during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The team utilized a thematic analysis approach to qualitatively code the transcripts. All analyses were conducted in Dedoose 8.3, and all transcripts were coded by three independent researchers to enhance rigour. Results: Five main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) harbouring screen guilt versus letting it go, (2) managing full‐time work and full‐time parenting, (3) prioritizing mental sanity, (4) socially distant supports demand screen time and (5) screens can have positive uses, too. Conclusion: During the COVID‐19 pandemic, mothers have resorted to screen time use to cope with increased stress and challenges. However, mothers have also found positive uses for screen time, such as connection with extended family members, peer interaction and educational activities. Findings highlight the need to differentiate screen time use by quality and to update formal screen time guidelines considering changing roles of technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that can persist into adulthood. Young people often stop taking ADHD medication during adolescence despite evidence that continuation would be beneficial. Increasingly, young people are restarting medication in early adulthood suggesting that cessation was premature. In this paper we explore the reasons given by young people for discontinuing ADHD medication. Methods: Qualitative data from the Children and Adolescents with ADHD in Transition between Children's and Adult Services (CATCh‐uS) project was analysed to look for reasons for stopping medication. Semi‐structured interviews with three groups of young people were analysed using thematic and framework analysis; this included young people prior to transition (n = 21); young people that had successfully transitioned to adult services (n = 22); and young people who left children's services prior to transition but re‐entered adult services later (n = 21). Results: Reasons given by young people for stopping ADHD medication included the following: the perceived balance between benefits and adverse effects of medication; perceptions of ADHD as a childhood or educational disorder; life circumstance of the young person and challenges young people faced in accessing services. Conclusions: A multidimensional approach is needed to address discontinuation of ADHD medication in order to improve the long‐term prospects and quality of life for these young people. Possible approaches include access to non‐pharmacological treatments and improved psychoeducation. As many reasons given by young people are not unique to ADHD, these findings are also of relevance to medication adherence in other chronic childhood conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize the parenting intervention literature for parents of children aged 2-10 years (mean age <10 years) with type 1 diabetes and to evaluate intervention efficacy in improving a range of parent, family and child outcomes. The present review de-emphasizes the traditional medical approach to illness management summarized in previous reviews and focuses on parenting factors identified in the literature as important to diabetes management. This review article is important as it outlines the present state of parenting intervention literature for this population. Methods Electronic searches were conducted for seven databases (Cumulative index to nursing and allied health literature, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane library and Web of Science) from their start dates until April 2014. Reference lists of all included papers were also searched for potentially relevant articles. Results Seven papers, representing six studies, met the inclusion criteria. Three studies primarily focused on improving parenting practices. The intervention programmes described in the remaining studies comprised multiple components; thus, it is difficult to establish the contribution of the parenting components to improving outcomes. Conclusions Parenting interventions may help to improve responsibility sharing and cooperation in diabetes management, child behaviour difficulties, parental behaviour, parents' psychological distress and child health outcomes. This review suggests the need for further well-designed trials of parenting interventions to determine their specific contribution to improving outcomes for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both diabetes and asthma are increasingly being recognized as health problems for ethnic groups. Because of cultural differences, ethnicity is reported to be a risk factor for poorer quality in health care, disease management and disease control. Ethnic groups are at risk for poorer quality of life and increased disease complications when compared with non-ethnic counterparts living in the same country. There is little known about how culture is addressed in interventions developed for ethnic groups. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the cultural perspectives of interventions for managing diabetes and asthma in children, adolescents and/or their families from ethnic minority groups. A total of 92 records were identified that were potentially relevant to this review following which, 61 papers were excluded. The full texts of remaining papers ( n= 31) were then read independently by both authors, and agreement was reached to exclude a further 27 papers that did not meet inclusion criteria. A total of four papers were eligible for inclusion in this review. Findings indicate that despite growing concerns about health disparities between ethnic and non-ethnic groups in relation to both asthma and diabetes in childhood, there has been little effort to develop cultural specific interventions for ethnic groups. By systematically reviewing asthma and diabetes interventions we have highlighted that few interventions have been developed from a cultural perspective. There are a limited number of interventions published that add knowledge on the specific elements of intervention that is needed to effectively and sensitively educate other cultures. More work is required into identifying which strategies or components of cultural interventions are most effective in achieving positive health outcomes for children, adolescents and/or their families from ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the last decade, the number of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in England has almost doubled, and it is estimated that worldwide, there are 1.2 million children with palliative care needs. Families and professionals caring for children with life-limiting conditions are likely to face a number of difficult treatment decisions and develop plans for future care over the course of the child's life, but little is known about the process by which these decisions and plans are made. Methods The purpose of this review is to synthesize findings from qualitative research that has investigated decision-making and future planning for children with life-limiting conditions. A systematic search of six online databases was conducted and identified 887 papers for review; five papers were selected for inclusion, using predefined criteria. Reference list searching and contacting authors identified a further four papers for inclusion. Results Results sections of the papers were coded and synthesized into themes. Nineteen descriptive themes were identified, and these were further synthesized into four analytical themes. Analytical themes were 'decision factors', 'family factors', 'relational factors' and 'system factors'. Conclusions Review findings indicate that decision-making and future planning is difficult and needs to be individualized for each family. However, deficits in understanding the dynamic, relational and contextual aspects of decision-making remain and require further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and young people can be valuable partners in research, giving their unique perspectives on what and how research should be done. However, disabled children are less commonly involved in research than their non-disabled peers. This review investigated how disabled children have been involved as research partners; specifically how they have been recruited, the practicalities and challenges of involvement and how these have been overcome, and impacts of involvement for research, and disabled children and young people. The INVOLVE definition of involvement and the Equality and Human Rights Commission definition of disability were used. Relevant bibliographic databases were searched. Websites were searched for grey literature. Included studies had involved disabled children and young people aged 5-25 years in any study design. Reviews, guidelines, reports and other documents from the grey literature were eligible for inclusion. Twenty-two papers were included: seven reviews, eight original research papers, three reports, three guidelines and one webpage. Nine examples of involvement were identified. Recommendations included developing effective communication techniques, using flexible methods that can be adapted to needs and preferences, and ensuring that sufficient support and funding is available for researchers undertaking involvement. Positive impacts of involvement for disabled children included increased confidence, self-esteem and independence. Positive impacts for research were identified. Involving disabled children in research can present challenges; many of these can be overcome with sufficient time, planning and resources. More needs to be done to find ways to involve those with non-verbal communication. Generally, few details were reported about disabled children and young people's involvement in studies, and the quality of evidence was low. Although a range of positive impacts were identified, the majority of these were authors' opinions rather than data. There remains scope for methodological research to inform appropriate approaches to public and patient involvement in childhood disability research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the processes used to assess a scientific paper and the lessons acquired from the role. Expectation that reviewers cannot be as generous with their time and attention on a particular work; Dimensions to a reviewer's task of assessing a manuscript for its suitability; Assumption that the editor has evaluated the topic as being within the scope of the journal's interests.

Background: Children have the right to health and countries a duty under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to facilitate this. The European Union has emphasized the importance of investing in children, but at times this seems more wish than pragmatism. Furthermore, European statistical systems do not provide any relevant data, and the degree of unmet need has hitherto been unknown. However, new ad hoc household survey data have now been published by Eurostat showing the percentage of children with a purported unmet medical or dental need and the expressed reasons for this. Method: This paper critically reviews these data on children with a reported unmet medical or dental need to create an indication of the number of European children with unmet medical and dental needs, and the contributory factors. Results: This paper calculates that some 1 million European children can be estimated to have an unmet medical need and 2 million children an unmet dental need, though the survey approach has some weaknesses. A probable overestimate of children affected in sample households offsets the likely failure to capture data about children in institutions, homeless, or in fractured families, or about multiple needs. The reported reasons for not obtaining treatments are a valuable first step in highlighting an important issue for Europe's children—measurement of service accessibility. Conclusion: Potentially over 3 million European Union children are failing to have their health needs and their rights met. If the incoming European Commission is serious about its predecessor's promise to invest in children and to take seriously their rights, action is needed to improve quantification of unmet need and to reduce suffering and potential lasting damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parental self‐efficacy describes parents' self‐perceived competence in fulfilling their roles. The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) is one of the most commonly used self‐report instruments, allowing for parental self‐efficacy measurement. Methods: This paper summarizes the results of three studies (total N = 2088) conducted to examine factor structure, internal consistency, test–retest reliability and criterion validity of the Polish version of PSOC (PSOC‐PL). The studies were carried out among parents (mothers and fathers) of typically developing 14‐ and 15‐year‐olds (Study 1, n = 1404) as well as among parents of typically developing children aged 6–16 (Study 2, n = 248), parents of typically developing children and children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (Study 3, n = 436, ages ranged from 6 to 13). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (Study 1) demonstrated an acceptable fit of the theorized two‐factor model, with theorized Satisfaction and Efficacy factors. The subscales' internal consistencies were satisfactory across all studies (Studies 1–3), and PSOC's test–retest reliability (Study 2) over a 3‐week interval was very high. Parents of children with developmental disorders (Study 3) reported lower efficacy than parents of typically developing children. Conclusions: The results of these three studies attest that the Polish version of PSOC is a reliable and valid measure of parental self‐efficacy beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While children in general are usually seen as a societal priority, many children are disadvantaged by marginalization, with adverse effects on health and development. Following feasibility studies, the European Commission has now adopted a formal Child Guarantee of service access. This paper links the Feasibility Studies to other reports on the need to address marginalized and institutionalized children. The problems in identifying and quantifying such children are outlined, as are the challenges of planning for these groups of children and the difficulty of finding universal definitions and data. This European Union initiative is timely, given that around a quarter of European children are marginalized, while the effects of Covid‐19 will add to this marginalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting 'care closer to home' for ill children is a policy and practice objective internationally. Progress towards this goal is hampered by a perceived lack of evidence on effectiveness and costs. The aim of the work reported here was to establish the strength of current international evidence on the effectiveness and costs of paediatric home care by updating and extending an earlier systematic review. A systematic review following Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidelines involved updating electronic searches, and extending them to cover paediatric home care for short-term acute conditions. Twenty-one databases were searched from 1990 to April 2007. Hand searching was also carried out. Pairs of team members, guided by an algorithm, selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs), other comparative studies and studies including health economics data. A third reviewer resolved any disagreements. The quality of RCTs was assessed, but a 'best-evidence' approach was taken overall. Data were extracted into specifically designed spreadsheets and a second team member checked all data. Narrative synthesis was used throughout. This paper reports findings from RCTs and studies with health economics data. In total, 16 570 publications were identified after de-duplication. Eleven new RCTs (reported in 17 papers) and 20 papers with health economics data were included and reviewed. Evidence on costs and effectiveness of paediatric home care has not grown substantially since the previous review, but this updated review adds weight to the conclusion that it can deliver equivalent clinical outcomes for children and not impose a greater burden on families. Indeed, in some cases, there is evidence of reduced burden and costs for families compared with hospital care. There is also growing evidence, albeit based on weaker evidence, that paediatric home care may reduce costs for health services, particularly for children with complex and long-term needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disabled children are a broad group that includes those with complex, special or additional health needs as a result of chronic physical, cognitive, communication or behavioural problems. These children are more frequently admitted to hospital than other children; however, there appears to be relatively little research on their experience as inpatients. The aim of this structured review and synthesis was to integrate findings from qualitative studies reporting the experience of disabled children when they are hospital inpatients. Inclusion criteria were: qualitative studies that focused on the experience of children less than 18 years old, with a chronic health condition or neurodisability, during an inpatient stay. Studies of outpatient episodes or intensive care units were excluded. A systematic search identified relevant abstracts, selected papers were reviewed and data were extracted. The synthesis involved elucidating and integrating common themes. Eight relevant papers were identified; data were gathered from children, parents and staff. Communication between children and staff was a dominant theme and comprised giving the child information about their condition and appropriate involvement of the child/young person in discussions and decision making that affected them. Also important was communication between parents and staff, particularly around the division of care for their child. Other themes included emotions, particularly fears, the ward environment and confidence in staff. The review suggests that disabled children's experience as inpatients is not always optimal. Improving the communication skills of ward staff and providing information to disabled children and their families would improve disabled children's experience when they are inpatients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consensus opinion supports standing frame use as part of postural management for nonambulant young people with cerebral palsy. Most young people with cerebral palsy in the United Kingdom, who use standing frames, use them at nursery or school, rather than at home. In this paper we report professionals' and parents' experiences and views of standing frame use specifically in educational settings. This research was conducted as part of a large mixed methods study to determine the acceptability and inform the design of a future trial of standing frames. Methods: Qualitative methods were used: focus groups with educational professionals, parents and clinicians (paediatricians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists) were convened. Data were analysed thematically using framework analysis. Results: Five focus groups were conducted. The overarching theme "flexibility" encompassed four subordinate themes: (i) "balancing education and therapy," which described the way education professionals had to juggle different priorities from health professionals within a multi‐disciplinary team; (ii) "young people's autonomy," which highlighted participants' belief that standing frame use should be centred on the individual young person and their needs; (iii) "working within logistical boundaries," which demonstrated that "ideal" standing frame use was not always possible due to logistical issues (e.g., staffing and standing frame availability); and (iv) "competence and confidence," which highlighted that educational professionals felt that they lacked the training to confidently position young people in their standing frame. Conclusions: This paper highlights the complexity of standing frame use in the educational setting. If a standing frame programme is prescribed to be delivered in an educational setting, strong multidisciplinary and interagency communication is essential to balance therapy versus education. Training is required to ensure staff are competent in using the standing frame with the young person understanding their individual requirements. A flexible approach—inclusive of the young person's needs, logistical demands and resource—is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptive title: Parents of children with rare diseases face pervasive challenges in meeting medical and social care needs. Existing research on the parents' experience of caring for a child with a rare disease is limited. This paper offers suggestions for better supporting families living with rare disease as well as possible avenues of future research. Background: Parents of children with rare diseases face pervasive challenges in meeting medical and social care needs. Existing research on the parent's experience of caring for a child with a rare disease is limited. Methods: An interpretive phenomenological approach was applied in this inquiry. Fifteen parents of children with rare diseases participated in semistructured interviews. Results: Interpretive thematic analysis revealed that due to the rarity of the disease and an overall lack of knowledge of the disease, there is an increase in the burden on the family in relation to "rarity" in addition to "disability." Four insights were also revealed: (a) Parents often know more about the disease then Health Care providers, and this leads to entanglements in communication and collaboration as experts and parents; (b) there is lack of coordination of care between providers and services caring for children with rare diseases; (c) there is a gap in accessibility to government supports; and (d) due to fragmented care, parents must fill the aforementioned gaps by juggling multiple roles including that of advocate, case manager, and medical navigator. Conclusion: This paper offers suggestions for better supporting families living with rare disease as well as possible avenues of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Young people with complex healthcare needs (CHNs) face the challenge of transferring from child to adult health services. This study sought to identify successful models of transitional care for young people with CHNs. Three conditions were used as exemplars: cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders and diabetes. Methods Scoping review: using search terms concerning transitional care, four databases were systematically searched for papers published in English between 1980 and April 2010. Additional informal search methods included recommendations from colleagues working with young people with each of the three conditions and making contact with clinical and research teams with expertise in transitional care. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to define the papers selected for review. A separate review of policy documents, adolescent health and transition literature was also undertaken; 10 common summary categories for the components of high-quality services were identified. All papers were coded using a framework analysis which evaluated the data in two ways using the 10 transition categories and four elements of Normalization Process Theory that are important for successful implementation and integration of healthcare interventions. Results Nineteen papers were selected for review. A very limited literature of models of service provision was identified for young people with cerebral palsy and diabetes. No models were identified for young people with autism spectrum disorders. Furthermore most publications were either descriptions of new service provision or time-limited pilot studies with little service evaluation or consideration of key elements of effective implementation. Conclusions Despite agreement about the importance of effective transitional care, there is a paucity of evidence to inform best practice about both the process of and what constitutes effective transitional care. There is therefore an urgent need for research to evaluate current transitional care practices for young people with CHNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic pain is relatively common in children and adolescents. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for treating pain in this age group. This paper aims to review the literature on the use of computerized cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) with children and adolescents with pain. Methods Three databases, Pubmed (including Medline), Embase and PsychInfo, were searched and papers were identified using specific inclusion criteria. Results Four studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which indicated beneficial results of using cCBT, with those who completed cCBT being more likely to experience at least a 50% post-treatment reduction in symptoms than those in a control group. A meta-analysis suggested a medium effect size of −0.41 for reduced pain intensity post treatment for cCBT compared with the control groups. A mean odds ratio of 6.03 was found for achieving a clinically significant reduction in pain in the cCBT group compared with the control groups. Conclusion This review tentatively suggests potential for using cCBT for pain in children and adolescents. However, there is only a small body of research exploring this relationship at present, and so further research is needed before any solid conclusions can be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the cover of the magazine along with editorial staff.

The article presents abstracts of papers on child care. These include "The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood: A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology," "Disabling conditions and registration for child abuse and neglect: a population-based study," "Child deaths resulting from inflicted injuries: household risk factors and perpetrator characteristics," and "Changes in the circumstances of young mothers in Britain: 1990-2000."

This paper recounts the difficulties experienced when the authors sought access to children in hospital for social research interviews. These were part of a 2-year study, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, aiming to explore the numbers, circumstances and experiences of children who spend prolonged periods in health care settings. As the intention was to carry out ‘guided conversations’ with 24 young people in various different NHS locations, permission to do so was sought from a multi-site research ethics committee (MREC), and from several local research ethics committees (LRECs). Agreement was then necessary from NHS trusts, which were asked to nominate a liaison person to help identify and recruit children to the study. Consent was also required from individual parents and children. A series of unexpected delays encountered during this process are discussed in some detail. Eventually a sample of 15 children was achieved. The second part of the paper locates this experience within a wider context, noting that similar difficulties gaining access to children in NHS settings have recently been reported by other social researchers. Several possible reasons for this trend are identified and discussed. These relate to the role of MRECs and LRECs in screening social research proposals, recently implemented legislation about data protection, heightened concerns within the NHS about confidentiality and consent, and increasing awareness of the risk of child abuse in health care settings. Finally, some suggestions for facilitating the access process are discussed. They include the sensitive and appropriate application of research governance frameworks to social research – including studies within health care settings. Ethical considerations and adequate protection of children are vital but, the authors argue, wherever possible children themselves should be encouraged to decide whether or not to participate in research. In addition, unnecessarily complex access procedures may adversely affect research outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advancing physical therapy interventions for children and young people is a high research priority. This includes research to describe and specify the control condition, typically 'current care', for effectiveness trials. This paper aims to identify physical therapy outcomes commonly targeted, and intervention techniques and approaches commonly used, by physiotherapists working with children (aged 2–19 years) with mobility limitations in the United Kingdom. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey. Participants were recruited through the interactive Chartered Society of Physiotherapy members‐only online discussion forum, the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists, direct emails and snowball sampling within the authors' professional networks and Twitter. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: We received 146 responses, 95/146 (65.1%) of which were fully complete. Therapists reported targeting 367 unique outcome constructs, of which 193 (52.6%) mapped onto activities and participation (e.g. moving around using equipment, maintaining body position and walking), 158 (43.1%) on body functions (e.g. muscle strength, joint mobility and gait functions), 11 (3.0%) on body structure (e.g. muscle length) and 3 (0.8%) on environmental factors (e.g. access home environment, access school environment and family confidence). The most commonly used interventions related to postural management (115/133 of respondents, 86.4%) and exercise therapy (116/137, 84.67%) and included techniques such as 'use equipment' (118/137, 86.1%), 'instruct how to do something' (117/137, 85.4%), 'practice' (105/137, 76.6%) and 'stretch' (99/137, 72.3%). Conclusions: In designing trials, current care can be described as a combination of biomechanical and physiological techniques and approaches targeted at body functions and through that to activity and participation. Although some environmental behaviour change techniques and strategies were reported, the explicit use of these in current care appears limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the prevalence of paediatric dysphagia increases, the need for long‐term non‐oral feeding has also increased. Despite these developments, little is known about caregiver experiences of transitioning a child onto long‐term non‐oral feeds, and the factors which influence the process of decision‐making and the provision of consent to do so. This paper aims to explore these factors. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine participants recruited from the multidisciplinary out‐patient non‐oral feeding clinic at a hospital. Interviews explored caregiver experiences of decision‐making and the process of providing consent when transitioning their child to non‐oral feeds, as well as the support structures available to the caregivers. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, then analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2013) and content analysis (Neuendorf, 2016). Results: Challenges to care and quality of life, access to information and culturally relevant counselling, and the involvement of family members and significant others emerged as prominent themes. Findings suggest that quality of life was the most common motivating factor for transitioning a child to non‐oral feeding methods. Several participants suggested that support and information sharing via digital platforms were both useful and effective. Implications: The findings highlight caregivers' needs for improved access to information and social support. The findings hold implications for training of healthcare providers working in similar contexts and for models of service delivery which ensure that family‐centred intervention can be delivered in culturally and contextually relevant ways. With widespread access to smartphones, counselling should include digital messaging as a way of providing support and information sharing. Future research should focus on the complexities of counselling and the process of informed consent in settings impacted by diverse cultural, contextual and linguistic barriers, as well as the potential value of mobile health (mhealth) in ensuring improved health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the research paper "Knowledge Into Action for Child Survival," published in the journal "Lancet." The child survival revolution of the 1980's contributed to steady decreases in child mortality in some populations, but much remains to be done. More than 10 million children will die this year, almost all of whom are poor. Two-thirds of these deaths could have been prevented if effective child survival interventions had reached all children and mothers who needed them. A group of concerned scientists and policy-makers issues a call to action to leaders, governments and citizens to translate knowledge into action for child survival.

Background: Healthcare professionals are ideally placed to discuss weight management with children and families to treat and prevent childhood obesity. The aim of this review was to collect and synthesize primary research evidence relating to health professional's views and experiences of discussing weight with children and their families. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE (OVID), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID) and Healthcare Management Information Consortium (HMIC). Twenty‐six full text qualitative studies published in English Language journals since inception to October 2019 were included. Papers were quality assessed and synthesized using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Results: Data analysis generated five themes: sensitivity of the issue, family–professional relationships, whole systems approach, professional competency and sociocultural context. Conclusion: Supporting behaviour change through discussion of healthy weight with children and families is an important part of the health professional's role. Tailored information for professionals, including resources and training, facilitates them to confidently talk to children and families about weight prioritized within interventions. The success of such interventions requires commitment from a range of professionals to ensure healthy weight is tackled through a whole system approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: University researchers worked with 13 children's service provider agencies to conduct a programme evaluation of parents' perceptions of the family‐centredness of service spanning 3 years (January 2015 to May 2018). Parents of Ontario children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receiving applied behaviour analysis (ABA) programming reported outcomes of their experience of family‐centred services (FCS) using the 20‐item Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC‐20). The purpose of this paper is to report the outcomes of the quality assurance evaluation of FCS as measured by MPOC‐20 among parents of children with ASD receiving ABA services. Methods: A total of 11 490 surveys (from 21 571 potential respondents [53.3%]) were completed. Means and proportions were used to describe the demographics, service utilization and MPOC‐20 scores with its 7‐point Likert scales, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Results: The overall provincial MPOC scores were consistent over the 3 years, ranging from very good to excellent, with Respectful and Supportive Care (n = 11 348, x¯ = 6.27, SD = 0.83) reporting the highest scale score and Providing General Information (n = 10 485, x¯ = 5.51, SD = 1.43) the lowest. Conclusion: Given the consistently high MPOC scores found in this and other programme evaluations, it is believed that health service providers have caught up to the FCS quality standards proposed 30 years ago. For this reason, the developers of MPOC are now planning a revision of the measure to address its ceiling effects and to integrate contemporary perspectives on family‐centred practice for children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increased awareness that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) continues into adulthood. Thus, health services are faced with a new challenge in providing a 'smooth' transition to adult services appropriate for young people with ADHD. This scoping review sought to identify the literature addressing transition for young people with ADHD to adult mental health services ( AMHS). A scoping review, in which the search terms ' ADHD' and ' Transition' or ' Transfer' were entered into eight healthcare publication databases facilitated by NHS Evidence to identify both published and unpublished papers between 2000 and June 2013. Additional informal searches were also undertaken. Twenty-three papers were selected for this review. This review confirms the lack of research explicitly tracking transition from Paediatrics/ Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ( CAMHS) to AMHS for young people with ADHD. Only four papers directly studying transition for ADHD patients were identified. Three further studies surveyed clinician perspectives. Taken together, the studies address a number of issues in relation to transition, including the developmental course of ADHD symptoms, appropriate adult care, knowledge and communication, unmet need, comorbidities, environmental demands and medication cessation/dosage during the transition period. While literature surrounding transition exists, the scope of the evidence showing successful and unsuccessful transition activity from Paediatric and CAMHS to AMHS for young people with ADHD is limited. Future quality research in the form of audits, longitudinal tracking studies and service evaluations are required if we are truly to understand and identify what is needed and currently available for successful transition to an appropriate adult service for ADHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]