[Vulnerability of children with special health care needs: implications for nursing]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Social Determinants of Health
• Qualitative Research Methods

Context:

• Vulnerability of children with special health needs (CSHN) in pediatric care settings.
• Focus on care requirements and daily life support challenges faced by CSHN and their families.
• Exploratory study conducted in a teaching hospital's pediatric admission unit.

Purpose:

• To describe and explore the multifaceted vulnerability experienced by CSHN.
• To identify specific areas of vulnerability including clinical frailty, healthcare access, and policy gaps.
• To understand the caregiver perspective on the support needs of CSHN.

Summary:

• Qualitative descriptive research involving ten family members/caregivers of CSHN.
• Data collection utilized a creative and sensitive group dynamics method, analyzed via French discourse analysis.
• Findings indicate social and programmatic vulnerability manifesting as clinical frailty, healthcare access barriers, and lack of targeted public policies.

Impact:

• Highlights the need for restructuring referral systems and public health programs for CSHN.
• Emphasizes the importance of active listening and subjective recognition of family-based caregiving by nursing professionals.
• Aims to inform policy development and healthcare system improvements for vulnerable pediatric populations.