A Systematic Literature Review of Child Life in Ambulatory Settings

Abstract

This article illustrates the growth and development of the profession of child life within the last 25 years through a literature review of child life services in ambulatory settings. We reviewed all literature chronicling child life services in ambulatory settings published between January 1993 and December 2018 in three major databases, synthesizing common themes across the literature. Over the last 25 years, growth has occurred in the provision of child life interventions in outpatient settings and more publications are being produced. In outpatient settings, procedural support interventions have been written about the most, with much of this literature coming after 2010. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(11):e491-e498.].