EBMT 2016 | Why it is important to involve children and adolescents in treatment decision-making
Imelda Coyne, PhD from Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland discusses the importance of encouraging the participation of children and adolescents in shared treatment decision-making. Whilst at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain, Prof. Coyne compares the attitudes of children versus adolescents towards involvement in their treatment. Younger children tend to be more willing to rely on the judgment of parents or healthcare professions while adolescents wish to be more informed and to be able to contribute to decisions made. Whether a decision is regarded big or small, it holds as much importance to the patient and this should not be overlooked when involving children and adolescents in decisions regarding their treatment and care.
