Effectiveness of pretend medical play in improving children’s health outcomes and well-being: a systematic review

BackgroundThe healthcare setting is stressful for many people, especially children. Efforts are needed to mitigate children’s healthcare-related anxiety. Medical play using the Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) concept can expose children to healthcare settings and help them develop positive experiences in these settings. In this role-playing game, children bring their soft toys and act as parents to the ‘sick’ teddies in a pretend hospital or clinic play setting. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of the TBH in improving children’s health outcomes and well-being.MethodsWe searched the reference lists of included studies from four electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar) from inception until November 2020. We included pre-post, quasiexperimental and case–control studies, as well as randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that discussed medical play using the TBH concept as an intervention. Studies that involved sick patients and used interventions unlike the TBH were excluded. We assessed the quality of the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration’s ‘Risk of bias’ tool.ResultsTen studies were included in this systematic review. Five specifically investigated the TBH method, while the others involved the same concept of medical play. Only three studies were RCTs. All of the studies report more than one outcome—mostly positive outcomes. Two report lower anxiety levels after intervention. Two found better healthcare knowledge, with one reporting increased feelings of happiness regarding visiting a doctor. Two studies found no change in anxiety or feelings, while another two found increased levels of fear and lowered mood after the medical play (which involved real medical equipment).ConclusionsThe practice of TBH has mostly positive outcomes, with lower anxiety levels and improved healthcare knowledge. Its effectiveness should be verified in future studies using a more robust methodology.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019106355.

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Clinical handover and handoff in healthcare: a systematic review of systematic reviews

International Journal for Quality in Health Care ◽

10.1093/intqhc/mzaa170 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Melissa Desmedt ◽

Dorien Ulenaers ◽

Joep Grosemans ◽

Johan Hellings ◽

Jochen Bergs

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Implementation Process ◽

Healthcare Setting ◽

Well Being ◽

Role Playing ◽

Included Study ◽

Clinical Handover ◽

Review Team

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this systematic review is to appraise and summarize existing literature on clinical handover. Data sources We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Study selection Included articles were reviewed independently by the review team. Data extraction The review team extracted data under the following headers: author(s), year of publication, journal, scope, search strategy, number of studies included, type of studies included, study quality assessment, used definition of handover, healthcare setting, outcomes measured, findings and finally some comments or remarks. Results of data synthesis First, research indicates that poor handover is associated with multiple potential hazards such as lack of availability of required equipment for patients, information omissions, diagnosis errors, treatment errors, disposition errors and treatment delays. Second, our systematic review indicates that no single tool arises as best for any particular specialty or use to evaluate the handover process. Third, there is little evidence delineating what constitutes best handoff practices. Most efforts facilitated the coordination of care and communication between healthcare professionals using electronic tools or a standardized form. Fourth, our review indicates that the principal teaching methods are role-playing and simulation, which may result in better knowledge transfer to the work environment, better health and patients’ well-being. Conclusions This review emphasizes the importance of staff education (including simulation-based and team training), non-technical skills and the implementation process of clinical handover in healthcare settings.

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Children and nature

Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health ◽

10.1093/med/9780198725916.003.0004 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 167-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nancy M. Wells ◽

Francesqca E. Jimenez ◽

Fredrika Mårtensson

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Well Being ◽

Children's Health ◽

Children’S Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Children And Nature ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Negative Health Outcomes ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Health Function

Children’s disconnection from nature has urgent ramifications, as nature is associated with a wide variety of positive human health outcomes and, conversely, disconnection from nature is linked to negative health outcomes. This chapter first considers factors (e.g. screen time, recess policies) that have contributed to children spending less time outdoors. Issues of equity are also discussed; the fact that income and race-based disparities in nature access can exacerbate effects on health. The chapter then outlines linkages between the natural environment and children’s health, reviewing evidence that connects nature to children’s health, function, and well-being. It includes aspects of both mental and physical health, and addresses outcomes such as: social interaction and social cohesion; cognitive restoration and academic performance; symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; myopia; physical activity and obesity; and vitamin D deficiency. Future research and implications for public health are considered. Lastly, promising intervention programmes are described.

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Women’s Empowerment and Infant and Child Health Status in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Maternal and Child Health Journal ◽

10.1007/s10995-020-03025-y ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Solomon Kibret Abreha ◽

Yacob Abrehe Zereyesus

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Women's Empowerment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Children's Health ◽

Women’S Empowerment ◽

Children’S Health ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

And Child Health

Abstract Introduction Although many studies have examined the relationship between women’s empowerment and a wide range of health outcomes, the extent to which the different dimensions of empowerment influence children’s health, and through which mechanisms and in what contexts, is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this review is to systematically assess and examine studies that investigated the association between women’s empowerment and children’s health status in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods A systematic review of the published literature is searched through PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases focusing on different measures of women’s empowerment and children’s health outcomes. Inclusion criteria in the review are studies that are published in English; full and original articles; studies measuring at least one dimension of women’s empowerment and children’s health outcomes; and Sub-Saharan African context. Studies included in this review are articles published between the year 2000 and 2019. Studies were excluded if the source was a letter, editorial, review, commentary, abstracts without providing full information about the study. Results Initially 4718 citations were identified. Finally, 15 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In general, the evidence suggests that women’s empowerment at the household level is positively and statistically significantly associated with better children’s health outcomes in sub-Saharan African countries. The review also reveals that women’s decision-making power or autonomy is the most common measure of women’s empowerment employed by many studies. Conclusions Future related studies would benefit by incorporating additional aspects of women's empowerment and child health outcomes.

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Parenting among Settled Migrants from Southern Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

Journal of Child and Family Studies ◽

10.1007/s10826-021-02013-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ruvimbo Machaka ◽

Ruth Barley ◽

Laura Serrant ◽

Penny Furness ◽

Margaret Dunham

Keyword(s):

Extended Family ◽

Evidence Synthesis ◽

Well Being ◽

Children's Health ◽

Children’S Health ◽

Qualitative Evidence Synthesis ◽

Raising Children ◽

Global North ◽

Need For Support ◽

Health And Well Being

AbstractThe Global North has over the years been a popular destination for migrants from the Global South. Most of the migrants are in their reproductive ages who go on to bear and raise children. The differences and subjectivity in the context of their experiences may have an impact on how they ensure that their children have the best possible health and well-being. This paper synthesises 14 qualitative research papers, conducted in 6 Global North countries. We gathered evidence on settled Southern African migrants experiences of bearing and raising children in Global North destination countries and how they conceptualise sustaining children’s health and well-being. Results of the review indicated a concerning need for support in sustaining children’s health and well-being. Cultural and religious beliefs underpin how the parents in these studies raise their children. More research is needed which engages with fathers and extended family.

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Blending Indigenous Sharing Circle and Western Focus Group Methodologies for the Study of Indigenous Children’s Health: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Qualitative Methods ◽

10.1177/16094069211015112 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 160940692110151

Author(s):

Sarah C. Hunt ◽

Nancy L. Young

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Children's Health ◽

Children’S Health ◽

Community Advisory Board ◽

Original Research ◽

Research Approach ◽

Sharing Circles

The primary objective of this systematic review was to investigate how Western focus groups and Indigenous sharing circles have been blended for the study of Indigenous children’s health. The secondary objective of this study was to propose recommendations for adapting focus groups to include elements of sharing circles. This systematic review was conducted using a systematic search of original research articles published between 2009 and 2020 that (a) focused on North American Indigenous children’s health and (b) used group-based qualitative methods including focus groups and sharing circles. Each of the articles was screened for relevance and quality. The methods sections were reviewed, subjected to qualitative content analysis, and codes were analyzed to identify common themes and synthesize results. We identified 29 articles, most of which followed a community-based participatory research approach. In these publications, most included a community advisory board, ethics approval was obtained, and in some cases, community members were included as research assistants. There was evidence that sharing circles and focus group methods had been blended in the recent Indigenous children’s health literature. This was particularly apparent in the authors’ approaches to recruitment, location, facilitation techniques, question format and reimbursement. Several groups have published results that describe approaches that successfully incorporated aspects of Indigenous sharing circles into Western focus groups, thus establishing a research method that is culturally safe and appropriate for the study of Indigenous children’s health.

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Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between reported racism and health and well-being for children and youth: a protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043722 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. e043722

Author(s):

Naomi Priest ◽

Kate Doery ◽

Mandy Truong ◽

Shuaijun Guo ◽

Ryan Perry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Research Policy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Future Research ◽

Critical Determinant ◽

Health And Well Being

IntroductionRacism is a critical determinant of health and health inequities for children and youth. This protocol aims to update the first systematic review conducted by Priest et al (2013), including a meta-analysis of findings. Based on previous empirical data, it is anticipated that child and youth health will be negatively impacted by racism. Findings from this review will provide updated evidence of effect sizes across outcomes and identify moderators and mediators of relationships between racism and health.Methods and analysisThis systematic review and meta-analysis will include studies that examine associations between experiences of racism and racial discrimination with health outcomes of children and youth aged 0–24 years. Exposure measures include self-reported or proxy reported systemic, interpersonal and intrapersonal racism. Outcome measures include general health and well-being, physical health, mental health, biological markers, healthcare utilisation and health behaviours. A comprehensive search of studies from the earliest time available to October 2020 will be conducted. A random effects meta-analysis will examine the average effect of racism on a range of health outcomes. Study-level moderation will test the difference in effect sizes with regard to various sample and exposure characteristics. This review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.Ethics and disseminationThis review will provide evidence for future research within the field and help to support policy and practice development. Results will be widely disseminated to both academic and non-academic audiences through peer-review publications, community summaries and presentations to research, policy, practice and community audiences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020184055.

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