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Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), a genus of Mycoplasma within the Tenericutes1, is one of the main agents of acute respiratory infections and a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children2,3. Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) accounts for 10%--40% of CAP in children4,5, with the incidence gradually increasing in recent years6. The clinical course can be prolonged, and children, due to psychological immaturity and limited self-control, often experience anxiety and poor cooperation during treatment, which complicates care and may compromise outcomes7,8. Effective nursing is therefore crucial alongside antimicrobial therapy. However, traditional nursing models are often fragmented, focusing primarily on reactive symptom management9. They typically lack standardized, integrated approaches to address key challenges such as systematic psychological support for distressed children, structured respiratory secretion clearance, and comprehensive caregiver education. These gaps can lead to inconsistent care quality, delayed recovery, and increased risk of complications10,11.
To address these limitations, this protocol details the development and application of a structured, refined nursing model for paediatric MPP. The overall goal of this method is to provide a systematic, reproducible, and patient-centred nursing framework that integrates multidimensional interventions into a cohesive care pathway. The rationale for developing this specific protocol stems from the need to move beyond fragmented care by combining evidence-based components -- psychological intervention, sequential airway management, fever care, dietary guidance, and structured health education -- into a standardized operational plan.
This refined nursing protocol offers procedural advantages over alternative or conventional nursing approaches. First, unlike standalone psychological strategies12,13, it embeds age-appropriate, story-based psychological interventions directly into medical procedures (e.g., injections, nebulisation) to proactively reduce fear and improve compliance. Second, compared to non-standardized respiratory care, it specifies a sequential airway management strategy (nebulisation with defined medication doses and flow rates, standardized back percussion with precise frequency and technique, assisted cough training) to promote effective expectoration14,15,16,17. Third, it replaces generic advice with a modular health education system covering disease cognition, prevention, medication, nursing, and rehabilitation, transforming caregivers into informed collaborators, a approach shown to enhance knowledge and satisfaction18,19. These components are integrated into a unified protocol, ensuring consistency and comprehensiveness often absent in conventional models9,20.
This approach is suitable for clinical settings and can be used to manage hospitalized children aged 4-12 years with mild to moderate MPP who require systemic support care. This approach is particularly useful when the goals are to standardize care interventions, increase caregiver engagement, and implement replicable care structures. The protocol requires caregivers to undergo training on its specific components, but it is designed with clear and quantifiable steps that can be adopted by people of varying experience levels, ensuring the protocol is reproducible. It provides a workable reference for healthcare professionals seeking a structured, holistic care framework that addresses the multifaceted needs of children with MPP beyond conventional medication.