Family at the Heart of Healing: A Systematic Review of the Transformative Power of Family-Centered Care in Child Health

Background and Aim: Family-centered care (FCC) stands as a transformative and unparalleled force in the field of child health. By strengthening emotional bonds and fostering active collaboration between families and healthcare systems, FCC empowers children to confront life's challenges with greater confidence, security, and resilience. This systematic review aims to explore the broad and profound effects of this care model on child health, emphasizing its potential to enhance quality of life and promote social skill development among pediatric populations. Methods: In this study, an extensive search was conducted using keywords such as "family-centered care" and "children" across international databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar as well as national databases Elmnet, Irandoc, SID, Magiran. The initial search retrieved ۳۷۱ articles. Inclusion criteria were limited to publications from the past five years. Studies without full-text access, duplicate entries, or systematic reviews were excluded. Following comprehensive and critical evaluations using relevant assessment tools, ۱۵ studies were selected for in-depth scientific analysis. All selected articles specifically addressed the role of families in improving children's health and well-being. Results: The findings indicate that family-centered care significantly reduces hospitalization duration, minimizes the risk of adverse health outcomes, and improves long-term treatment efficacy. By actively involving families in care processes, FCC creates a supportive environment that enhances children's emotional well-being, reduces treatment-related anxiety, and facilitates better cooperation during medical procedures. This model fosters trust, decreases the psychological burden of illness, and contributes to faster clinical recovery. Moreover, FCC is associated with decreased medical errors, increased satisfaction among both caregivers and healthcare providers, and improved communication outcomes. In underserved areas, it plays a pivotal role in bridging gaps in healthcare access and reduces the financial burden of prolonged hospitalization. Evidence further shows that FCC contributes to cognitive, emotional, and social development, making it not only a treatment model but a developmental framework. Conclusion: Family-centered care, by improving health outcomes and expediting recovery, provides an optimal setting for holistic child development. However, to realize its full potential, barriers such as workforce shortages, time constraints, limited parental-provider collaboration, and socio-cultural challenges must be addressed through targeted strategic interventions.