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Attitudes Towards Involving Children in Decision-Making Surrounding Lung Transplantation
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  • Emily Barsky,
  • Laura Berbert,
  • Suzanne Dahlberg,
  • Robert Truog
Emily Barsky
Children's Hospital Boston

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Laura Berbert
Boston Children's Hospital
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Suzanne Dahlberg
Boston Children's Hospital
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Robert Truog
Boston Children's Hospital
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Abstract

Background: Medical care has shifted from a paternalistic model towards one centered around patient autonomy and shared decision-making (SDM), yet the role of the pediatric patient in decision-making is unclear. Studies suggest that many children with chronic disease are capable of participating in and even making medical decisions at a young age, and yet we do not standardly involve them. Methods: This is a single center survey study investigating physician attitudes towards involvement of children in decisions regarding lung transplantation, utilizing a hypothetical case scenario with systematic manipulation of age and maturity level. We evaluated physician belief regarding ultimate decision-making authority, attempts at reconciliation of parent-child discordance, and views towards utilizing ethics and psychiatry consultation services. Results: The majority of pediatric pulmonologists believe decision-making authority rests with the parents. The effects of age and maturity are unclear. In instances of parent-child disagreement, physician are more likely to try to convince parents to defer to the child if the child is both older and more mature. Physicians are divided on the utility of ethics and psychiatry consultations. Conclusion: Involvement of children in shared decision-making is broadly supported but poorly implemented. Despite evidence that children with chronic disease may have decisional capacity starting at a young age, the majority of physicians still grant decisional authority to parents. There are numerous barriers to involving children in decisions, including legal considerations. The role of age and maturity level in influencing these decisions appears small and warrants further investigation.
24 Nov 2020Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
26 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
26 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
05 Dec 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Jan 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Jan 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
25 Jan 20211st Revision Received
27 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
27 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
08 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Accept