Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Inpatient Care Team Views on Child Life Services: A Scoping Review
Brandon J Wong1, Rebekah Jihae Lee1, Jamie Saragossi2
1Renaissance School of Medicine.
Insights
Child life specialists positively impact pediatric patients and families, but face integration challenges within healthcare teams. Further research is needed to enhance interprofessional collaboration and patient-centered care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Healthcare Team Collaboration
- Patient and Family Support Services
Background:
- Child Life Services are integral to pediatric patient and family care.
- Interprofessional collaboration significantly influences the utilization of these services.
- Understanding healthcare team perspectives is crucial for optimizing Child Life Services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize existing literature on pediatric healthcare team perspectives regarding Child Life Services.
- To identify factors influencing the utilization of Child Life Services in hospital settings.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science).
- Nine primary studies published before November 2021 were included and analyzed using a scoping review methodology.
- Data were charted by two independent reviewers, focusing on common themes, outcomes, strengths, and limitations.
Main Results:
- Certified child life specialists have broad responsibilities and a positive impact on patients and families.
- Challenges exist in interprofessional collaboration and integration of Child Life Services.
- Educating healthcare teams about the roles of child life specialists is valued.
Conclusions:
- The literature confirms the positive impact of certified child life specialists on pediatric patients and families.
- Barriers to full integration within interdisciplinary care teams persist.
- Further research is essential to address these challenges and advance patient and family-centered care.
Context:
The utilization of Child Life Services is influenced by interprofessional collaboration and perceptions of other members of the medical team.
Objectives:
To summarize studies which address pediatric health care team perspectives on Child Life Services and their utilization in the hospital setting.
Data Sources:
A comprehensive literature search was conducted with controlled vocabularies and key terms in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Science.
Study Selection:
Primary studies published before November 2021 were screened using a predetermined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Data Charting:
Data charting was performed by 2 independent reviewers. Data extracted include baseline study characteristics, common themes, main outcomes, strengths, and limitations. Because this is not a systematic review, data from included studies was not quantitatively analyzed, but carefully summarized in the manner of a standard scoping review.
Results:
Nine studies met criteria for inclusion. Common qualitative themes on certified child life specialists include: (1) their broad responsibilities, (2) their positive impact on patients and families, (3) challenges with interprofessional collaboration and integration, and (4) the value of educating others on their roles and responsibilities.
Conclusions:
Medical subject headings, controlled vocabulary, or other standardized subject headings that index literature on Child Life Services is limited. However, the existing body of literature supports the positive impact certified child life specialists have on patients and families, despite challenges with complete integration into the interdisciplinary care team. Additional research is required to fully understand and overcome these challenges in continued efforts to further drive patient and family-centered care.
More Related Videos
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
08:08Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection
Published on: May 31, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic...
01:25Continuing Care