Cardiovascular Pharmacology: Open Access

When to invest in clinical guidelines for children? A practice oriented tool to facilitate decision-making

15^th International Conference on Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology

February 19-20, 2018 | Paris, France

Inge Schalkers, Clair Enthoven, Hester Rippen, Joske Bunders and Christine Dedding

De Hart & Vaatgroep, Netherlands

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Cardiovasc Pharm Open Access

Abstract:

Children are not just small adults; they need to be diagnosed and treated in the context of their rapid growth and development. However, in guideline development, children�??s needs and interests are still overlooked. This study aims to develop a tool that could stimulate guideline developers to take children into account on a more structural basis and to explore how to facilitate children�??s participation in the process of guideline development. A three-phase multi-method sequential study design was used. Professionals involved in guideline development participated in interviews (n=12), filled in a questionnaire (n=60) and/or participated in the focus group meeting (n=11). The study results in a comprehensive understanding of the considerations that professionals take into account when deciding whether guidelines need to apply to children specifically. This resulted into a tool that assists guideline developers to make this assessment more accurately. It takes the form of a flowchart that guides users through a series of critical questions. The flowchart reminds guideline developers to consider children as a particular patient population when prioritizing and demarcating new guideline topics. It will help to ensure that clinical guidelines address children�??s unique health care needs and perspectives. Facilitating children�??s and parent�??s participation in the process of guideline development is perceived as challenging; nevertheless, it should be the next step in making pediatric guidelines more child-centered and family-centered.

Biography :

Inge Schalkers has obtained her PhD degree in 2016. Presently she works as a Policy Advisor for De Hart & Vaatgroep, a Dutch patient organization representing the interests of people with cardiovascular diseases. Her area of interest lies in the organization of patient participation in cardiovascular research.