Related Experiment Videos
Assent in Pediatric Patients
Jean C Self1, Jennifer A Coddington2, Karen J Foli3
1Indiana University Health Arnett.
Aim:
To report an analysis of the concept of pediatric assent.
Background:
The concept of assent is poorly defined in current literature which may lead to potentially flawed practices in obtaining pediatric assent.
Design:
The Walker and Avant (2011) method is used to provide clarity to the concept of pediatric assent.
Data Sources:
Data were collected from PubMed, Academic Search Premier, PhilPapers, Wikipedia, and Google.
Review Methods:
Data were collected from 2014 to 2015. Twenty-three sources published between 2011 and 2015, nine sources published between 2003 and 2009, the Belmont Report (1979), and the American Academy of Pediatrics' report (1995) were included for pertinent contributions to this multidisciplinary concept analysis.
Results:
Elements of assent include a patient's thoughtful review of the proposed treatment and rational decision in choosing the best course of action. There may be social, familial, and cognitive development factors influencing this process.
Conclusion:
This framework uses nurses' knowledge of cognitive development and ethics to inform practice. Assent is respectful of minor patients and ensures their rights are protected. Policies and procedures can be developed to incorporate assent, researchers have a stronger conceptual base, and educators can train nurses to help pediatric patients develop medical decision making skills.