title: The involvement of parents in the healthcare provided to hospitalzed children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to analyze the answers of parents and health care professionals concerning the involvement of parents in the care provided to hospitalized children.
  
  
  METHODS
  exploratory study based on the conceptual framework of pediatric healthcare with qualitative data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  three dimensions of involvement were highlighted: daily care provided to children, opinions concerning the involvement of parents, and continuity of care with aspects related to the presence and participation of parents, benefits to the child and family, information needs, responsibility, right to healthcare, hospital infrastructure, care delivery, communication between the parents and health services, shared learning, and follow-up after discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the involvement of parents in the care provided to their children has many meanings for parents, nurses and doctors. Specific strategies need to be developed with and for parents in order to mobilize parental competencies and contribute to increasing their autonomy and decision-making concerning the care provided to children.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elsa Maria de Oliveira Pinheiro de
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Economia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro Lopes
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing Research Development, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Aparecida Garcia de
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing Research Development, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Falleiros de
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D055815:Young Adult