Parental preference for treatment location and inclusion in decision making in painful pediatric procedures : Towards an evidence-based clinical guideline

Purpose
To determine parental preference for treatment location of painful procedures for pediatric patients, and the involvement of parents in decision-making about procedure location.

Design and method
A descriptive survey design was applied. Parents of hospitalized children were asked what procedures their child had undergone, where the procedures were performed, who decided on the location, what their preference was, and why. Data was collected over a twelve-day period in seven wards of a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Results
Of 312 different procedures, 244 (78%) were performed in the patient's room. The treatment room was reserved for complex procedures such as lumbar punctures. Seventy-three percent of parents surveyed indicated a strong preference for procedures to be performed in the patient's room, with the most common reason being ‘comfortability’. Parents were only involved in procedure location decision-making in 50% of the reported cases.

Conclusions
For parents, the patient's room is the preferred location for many procedures. The opinion of parents was not always taken into consideration by health care professionals, in contrary to the principles of patient-centered care. These findings are important for health care professionals in pediatric settings to reconsider the location of procedures and how parents are involved in decision making.