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Patient Companions’ Awareness Of Child Rights
Pınar Özbudak1, Can Demir Karacan21Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ankara, Türkiye2Ankara City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes children as individuals entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to health. This right extends to children receiving inpatient care, ensuring their access to appropriate medical treatment and protection. However, the awareness of these rights among caregivers remains limited, which may influence the care children receive.
METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital. A structured questionnaire was administered to accompanying persons of hospitalized children to evaluate their awareness of both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and national patient rights regulations. Sociodemographic data and response patterns were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: Out of 200 participants, only 28% were aware of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and just 35% had prior knowledge of the national Patient Rights Regulation. Common misconceptions included the child’s right to refuse treatment, informed consent requirements, and the child’s right to confidentiality. Awareness levels were significantly lower among participants with lower educational attainment (p < 0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that many caregivers lack sufficient knowledge of children’s rights in medical contexts. This lack of awareness may hinder effective communication with healthcare professionals and limit the child’s autonomy and participation in care decisions. Systematic caregiver education within hospital settings could help bridge this gap.
The goals outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child are not fully realized in clinical practice. Increasing awareness among caregivers is essential to promote child-centered care and uphold health-related rights during hospitalization. Future studies should focus on developing and evaluating interventions to improve understanding of child and patient rights.
Manuscript Language: English
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