Global child and family-centered care fellowship, education and mentorship for pediatric healthcare professionals: A literature review

Child- and family-centered care (FCC) is increasingly accepted and implemented to optimize the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. Standish Foundation for Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has designed and piloted a fellowship to educate pediatric healthcare professionals in FCC & psychosocial care via an inquiry and mentorship model in Tbilisis, Georgia. This review aimed to evaluate and synthesize existing literature on psychosocial and FCC mentorship for pediatric healthcare professionals in four parts: ongoing need, effects on healthcare professionals, effects on children and their families and/or caregivers, and in cross-country healthcare settings. Reviewers searched open-source databases for articles in English published between 2010 and 2021. Opportunities for psychosocial and FCC skills development is both desired and needed by pediatric healthcare professionals, a viewpoint shared by families of pediatric patients. Existing mentorship models varied in design but overall improved provider confidence and ability to provide FCC in clinical settings. Some support for these interventions improving patient and family clinical outcomes is documented, although further research is necessary. In cross-country healthcare settings with varying resource levels, clinical mentorship in general can improve quality and delivery of care without requiring entirely new approaches. This review supports psychosocial mentorship models as an effective tool for child- and family-centered care delivery. Future research into long-term professional and patient outcomes, FCC impact on pediatric patients with non-traditional family units, and in cross-country settings is recommended to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how FCC can improve quality of healthcare.