Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Pediatric Nursing, cilt.89, ss.29-37, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the child-centered emergency department design by examining the experiences of pediatric patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department from a parental perspective. Method: The research was conducted using a qualitative research approach. The sample consisted of 21 parents of typically developing children aged 6–12 years who presented in one pediatric emergency department in Turkey within a six month period. A semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection tool. The obtained data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The research findings were classified under three main themes: (1) Emergency Department Experiences of Pediatric Patients, (2) Child-Centered Healthcare Architecture, and (3) Transformation and Sustainability. The first theme identified the emotional and behavioral responses exhibited by children in emergency departments. The second theme revealed that physical (spatial) elements, environmental (sensory) elements, and privacy issues play a significant role in children's emergency department experiences. The third theme includes child-centered design suggestions and service-oriented suggestions. Discussion: This study offers an in-depth parental perspective on the child-centered design of one pediatric emergency department in Turkey. The results demonstrate that the design of the physical environment, sensory stimuli, privacy, and the communication competencies of healthcare personnel are critical in shaping children's experiences. Practical implications: Pediatric emergency departments should be designed to be child-friendly. It is incumbent upon the ministries of health and the relevant professional organizations to establish Child-Friendly Emergency Department standards and to integrate these standards with physical infrastructure, staff qualifications, and patient experience components.