title: The child in theatre: should parents be involved?
abstract: In this article the author will discuss the parental role in relation to children undergoing surgery. The gap between theory and practice in relation to this issue is recognised, and an inter-relationship which must occur has been described (McCaugherty 1991). The principles of theory are valuable, but it is only through application to practice that problems can be properly identified. Equally, the ability to deal with such problems as they arise can only occur when the underpinning knowledge of theory enables foresight. The author will examine theories and research into parental involvement in their child's care whilst the child is in the operating department and discuss problems which have arisen during application to practice.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011368:Professional-Family Relations