Participatory methods in pediatric participatory research: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medical Research
• Child Participation Studies

Background:

• Meaningful child participation is crucial in medical research.
• Developing effective participatory research methods for children is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and assess existing knowledge on participatory methods used in pediatric research.
• To identify and categorize different participatory approaches for involving children in research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across five major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane).
• Twenty-four relevant documents were included after rigorous screening for analysis.

Main Results:

• The literature on participatory methods in pediatric research is largely descriptive, with a lack of high-quality evidence.
• Five categories of participatory methods were identified: observational, verbal, written, visual, and active.
• Method selection should consider child's age, socio-demographic factors, and research goals.

Conclusions:

• Current participatory methods are primarily used for data collection but hold potential for genuine child involvement.
• These methods can facilitate a successful partnership between child participants and researchers.
• This review provides valuable insights for researchers designing participatory studies with children.