ReviewFrontiers in pediatrics2026
Towards a theory-informed framework of child-centred care in paediatric healthcare: a systematic scoping review.
Review in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Child-centred care is increasingly advocated in paediatric healthcare, yet its theoretical foundations remain fragmented and poorly defined. This review aimed to identify and synthesize theoretical perspectives applied to child-centred care in healthcare and to develop a theory-informed framework that clarifies its theoretical foundations and operationalisation. Methods: The review followed the JBI methodology for systematic scoping reviews and was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL was conducted for studies published between 1946 and August 2024. Peer-reviewed studies involving children, parents, or healthcare professionals that applied theoretical perspectives to child-centred care were included. Screening and data extraction were conducted independently by multiple reviewers. Data were synthesized in three steps: (1) grouping studies by theoretical framework, (2) analysing shared elements across six theories, and (3) integrating themes to construct a framework and identify core domains. Results: Thirteen studies were included, identifying six theoretical perspectives underpinning child-centred care. Synthesis of these perspectives resulted in a theory-informed framework comprising three interrelated domains: (1) the competent child, (2) social context and ecologies, and (3) development as a dynamic process. Together, these domains conceptualise child-centred care as a relational, contextual, and developmental process that supports children's participation, agency, and well-being. Conclusion: This review advances conceptual clarity by integrating six theoretical perspectives into a theory-informed framework of child-centred care. The framework positions child-centred care as a dynamic, relational, and developmental process linking children's agency, social context, and development. The framework provides a tentative, structured foundation for guiding practice, education, and research. Further research is required to test and refine the framework across diverse cultural, geographic and healthcare contexts.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.