Lived experiences by families and children with urinary and intestinal symptoms: systematic review of mixed methods

Objective: To map and describe the occurrence of urinary and intestinal symptoms during childhood and to investigate the impact of such symptoms on the experiences of children and their families. Method: Systematic review of mixed methods, performed in the electronic databases MEDLINE/PUBMED, CINAHL, LILACS, PSYCINFO and EMBASE in July 2019, which generated 3,020 references. After removal of duplicates, 2,521 titles and abstracts were screened with time filter, and application of inclusion criteria. Among these, 31 articles were read in full and evaluated as for methodological quality by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, resulting in 15 articles as the final sample. Results: The following results were found: feeling of inferiority, aggressiveness, guilt and shame. The review also showed the negative impact of urinary and/or intestinal symptoms in the social context of children and their families, especially in the school environment. Conclusion and Implications for practice: This systematic review of mixed methods highlights the importance of addressing children’s emotional and social impacts, especially events in the school environment. It is necessary to subsidize the health professional in assisting families and children with urinary and/or intestinal symptoms, in order to provide expanded care, valuing the biopsychosocial needs of the child-family dyad.