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Making Sense of Listening: The IMAP Test Battery
Published on: October 11, 2010
Establishing a framework for listening to children in healthcare
Clare Davies1, Jennifer Fraser1, Donna Waters1
1Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Child Rights Law
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Bioethics
Background:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) established children's right to express views and have them considered in 1989.
- Despite UNCRC Article 12, children and young people often struggle to have their voices heard in healthcare settings.
- Limited awareness among health professionals hinders the effective implementation of children's participation rights in healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine persistent barriers to the full implementation of UNCRC Article 12 in healthcare.
- To address the limited awareness and understanding of children's participation rights among healthcare professionals.
- To present a framework for understanding 'voice' and clarifying healthcare organizations' responsibilities regarding Article 12.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of barriers to Article 12 implementation.
- Review of existing literature on children's rights in healthcare.
- Development of a conceptual framework for healthcare organizations.
Main Results:
- Significant barriers continue to impede the realization of children's right to be heard in healthcare, 30 years after UNCRC.
- Health professionals often lack awareness of the scope and existence of UNCRC Article 12.
- Existing structures may not adequately support or prioritize the articulation of children's views.
Conclusions:
- The full implementation of UNCRC Article 12 in healthcare remains a challenge.
- Enhanced understanding and a clear framework are needed to support healthcare professionals and organizations.
- Addressing these barriers is crucial for upholding children's rights and improving healthcare experiences.
Abstract:
The principle that children and young people are capable of forming their own views, have the right to express those views, and are entitled to have those views taken seriously was introduced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. The implications for the delivery of healthcare are clear; however, children and young people continue to experience difficulty in having their views heard and taken seriously during healthcare encounters and the effectiveness of the UNCRC, in particular Article 12 appears to be limited. This article will discuss how, 30 years on, significant barriers continue to impede the full implementation of Article 12. In recognition of the limited awareness of its scope or even existence by health professionals working with children, a framework that can facilitate a better understanding of the concept of voice, and articulate healthcare organisations' full responsibilities when it comes to Article 12, is presented.
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