Strategies for implementing humanized care in pediatric intensive care units
Keywords:
Humanized care, pediatric intensive care, nursingAbstract
Humanization of care in Pediatric Intensive Care Units constitutes an approach aimed at comprehensively addressing the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients and their families. To analyze the available scientific evidence on the strategies used to implement humanized care models, a systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The search was carried out in PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and DIALNET databases, considering publications in Spanish, English, and Portuguese published between 2020 and 2025. A total of 469 records were identified, of which 14 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools, and the findings were synthesized through a narrative review. The results showed that the main strategies for promoting humanized care include the active presence and participation of parents, effective communication between healthcare professionals and families, the implementation of protocols focused on humanized care, the strengthening of teamwork, and the development of a person-centered organizational culture. The main barriers identified were workload, communication limitations, organizational factors, and difficulties in accessing technological resources. Institutional support, continuous professional training, and the development of interpersonal skills among healthcare professionals emerged as key facilitating factors. Overall, the evidence suggests that humanized care enhances the well-being of patients and their families, increases satisfaction with healthcare services, and contributes to improving the quality of care in pediatric intensive care settings.
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