Hope-promoting communication with pediatric patients with chronic diseases and their families: a scoping review

Introduction: The way communication is conducted directly influences the professional-patient relationship, how patients cope with their diagnosis, and their sense of hope throughout treatment. This study aims to map the literature on strategies that healthcare professionals can use to promote hope in communication with pediatric patients and their families in the context of chronic illness. Based on this objective, the study highlights an algorithm to assist healthcare professionals in instilling hope in this population through communication. Design: Scoping review. Methods: This systematized review was conducted using the databases PubMed, LILACS, PsycInfo, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus, employing the PCC framework and the Boolean operators AND and OR. The time frame was limited to the last 20 years (2004-2024). A total of 734 studies were identified across the databases, with an additional four retrieved through manual citation searches, resulting in 19 articles included in the final sample. Results: The findings highlight three key pillars for promoting hope in communication: (1) careful preparation for information delivery, which involves identifying the diverse needs of families and creating a physically comfortable and emotionally supportive environment; (2) providing information and emphasizing how it is presented-considering content, clarity, honesty, empathy, and adaptation to the recipient's specific needs; and (3) follow-up after information delivery, ensuring emotional support and active, skilled listening. Conclusions: Interpersonal communication between the healthcare professional, the patient, and the family was mainly focused on the transmission of information about the disease and treatment in a clear and empathetic manner, considering who is receiving the information and how the information is interpreted. Clinical Relevance: This review provides guidance for healthcare professionals in implementing communication strategies that foster hope in the context of pediatric chronic illness. Additionally, this guide may serve as a model for training students and healthcare professionals. Further research is needed to implement and explore additional effective communication strategies for this population across diverse cultural settings.