A Scoping Review Protocol: Parenting Experiences and Family Dynamics in Pediatric Burn Care Settings from Hospitalization to the Return Home

Background: Evidence indicates that pediatric burns are a significant form of trauma. They affect not only children but also their parents, who often experience short- and long-term psychopathological symptoms. The body of knowledge on the impact of hospitalization on parents has expanded; however, there is a dearth of evidence on the dynamics of parental relationships, parental experiences, and how these experiences affect their parenting. Objectives: This study aims to map and summarize the available literature on the repercussions of trauma associated with pediatric burns and hospitalization on parental and family dynamics. Methods: A scoping review will be carried out in accordance with the JBI methodology, based on the PCC. Studies involving hospitalized children (up to the age of 18) who have suffered accidental burns and their parents or caregivers will be included. The literature study will examine the effects of pediatric burn-related trauma on family and parental dynamics, emphasizing interventions and adjustment strategies that support children and families affected by this injury. Studies related to hospital settings and returning home will be included and analyzed by two independent reviewers using a standardized form developed for this study. The databases consulted will be Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed/Medline, Collection of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (via EB-SCO), PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science (Clarivate). Results: The results will be summarized narratively, presented in tables or diagrams, to highlight key findings related to parental experiences with burned children, the trauma associated with this episode, and its impact on parenting. In addition, strategies developed within the framework of the care partnership will be highlighted. Conclusions: Understanding how family dynamics change after a child suffers a burn injury and goes through the hospitalization process is crucial for nurses to improve their practice. We hope that this review will promote partnership-oriented, family-centered nursing practice in the care of child burn victims and their families, as well as assist in the identification of knowledge gaps in the literature and potential areas for future research and development.