Supporting the Decision Making of Children With Cancer: A Meta-synthesis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Growing recognition of the importance of children's involvement in healthcare decisions.
• Lack of a clear conceptual framework for decision-making in pediatric cancer patients.
• Need to understand children's perspectives on their care, treatment, and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the decision-making process for children with cancer.
• To identify the needs and preferences of pediatric cancer patients during decision-making.
• To inform enhanced palliative care strategies for children with cancer.

Main Methods:

• Metaethnography approach utilized for a comprehensive metasynthesis.
• Systematic literature search across major biomedical and psychological databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL).
• Adherence to PRISMA statement guidelines for reporting.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 27 studies from an initial retrieval of 7,237 studies.
• Four key themes emerged describing the decision-making journey: facing health threats, preparing for action, asserting choices, and navigating influences.
• Identified factors influencing children's decision-making, including internal and external elements.

Conclusions:

• Children with cancer actively engage in a decision-making process.
• Respecting children's values, emotions, and preferences is vital for building trust and enhancing their decision-making capacity.
• Future research should explore children's emotional, cognitive, and developmental aspects, alongside their interactions with families and healthcare providers.