Communicating health information to children: is a child-rights-based approach being adopted by nurses? An integrative review.

Abstract

Background: Childhood is a time when health behaviours are established and the foundations for health literacy are cemented. In Aotearoa New Zealand nurses are responsible for communicating health messages to children at key stages in children's lives.

Objectives/aims: This review explores the ways in which nurses communicate health messages to children and adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand. It evaluates whether current approaches to health communication are in-line with a child's rights-based approach.

Design: An integrative review using a systematic literature search strategy.

Data sources: In July 2022, 9 databases were searched including: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Library, EBSCO (host), Web of Science Core Collection, CINHIAL plus, psychINFO and PsychEXTRA.

Methods: Following title and abstract screening 41 articles went through to full-text screening. These were uploaded into NVivo v.12 for analysis. Results were analysed using content analysis with a deductive coding framework informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A total of 20 articles met all inclusion criteria and were assessed of high quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results: Nurses communicate health messages using a variety of strategies, some of which align with the rights of the child. No evidence was found of nurses communicating health messages through play or creative activities or by adopting principles and practice of continuity of care, including health communication beyond the paediatric context.

Conclusion: Opportunities exist for improvements to the rights of children and adolescents within nursing practice. Further research about the rights of children in healthcare services including not only identifying the barriers but research that includes interventions and proposes solutions is necessary .