Funded by: Fundación Canaria Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC)

Grant amount: €6,000.00

Duration: 2 years (2024-2025)

Principal Investigators: Alezandra Torres Castaño (PI), Maria Angeles Ferrera Fernandez (Co-PI)

Associated Researchers: Renata Linertová, Analia Abt-Sacks, Ricardo Jose Pinto, Sara Martin Mora, Saul Martín Pulido

Background:

Current knowledge on shared decision-making (SDM) in pediatrics has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving communication between healthcare professionals, parents, and children, fostering more informed and consensual decision-making, with the potential to enhance the quality of life for children with health conditions. Despite evidence supporting SDM’s impact in various pediatric contexts—such as chronic disease management, end-of-life care, and mental health treatment—its implementation level remains limited, as do evaluation experiences.

Objective:

To identify the current level of SDM use among pediatric healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, and children and adolescents aged 10 to 16 years with chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and asthma, along with their parents. Additionally, to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to SDM use by healthcare professionals. The information gathered will serve as the foundation for formulating a series of actions aimed at improving the level of SDM use in pediatric settings, specifically in managing diabetes, obesity, and asthma.

Method:

A mixed-method study will be conducted, comprising two components: a prospective descriptive observational study and a qualitative study based on focus groups with healthcare professionals. This preliminary study will be complemented by the formulation of strategies to enhance SDM knowledge and use among pediatric healthcare professionals, children, adolescents, and their families.

Contact Person: Alezandra Torres Castaño (atorrcas@sescs.es)