Creating a communication space in the healthcare context: Children's perspective of using the eHealth service, Sisom. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carlsson, Ing-Marie; Arvidsson, Susann; Svedberg, Petra; Nygren, Jens M; Viklund, Åsa; Birkeland, Anna-Lena; Larsson, Ingrid
• Is Part Of: Journal of child health care. Volume 25:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Child-centred care -- communication -- eHealth -- grounded theory -- implementation; Pediatric nursing -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Child health services -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1177/1367493520904804
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4935

Abstract

According to the United Nation's Convention of the Rights of the Child, children have the right to participate in their own healthcare and make their opinions heard. The aim of this study was thus to explore the impact of using an eHealth service, Sisom, to gain the children's perspectives during their healthcare appointments. Data were gathered through individual interviews with a purposeful sample of 16 children, aged 6–13 years old, treated for different diseases and using the eHealth service, Sisom, during their healthcare appointments. The interviews were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory. The results showed that using Sisom made children's voice heard by creating a communication space in the healthcare setting. This meant that the children got involved in the communication, were acknowledged as an important person who could give the answers to questions and were given time. Implementing the use of Sisom is a way to make children's needs and preferences explicitly visible for decision-making in practice and thereby supporting the further development of child-centred care in practice.