Photobiomodulation in Neonatal and Pediatric Healthcare: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Photobiomodulation is a noninvasive therapy used with neonates and children, with promising results due to its analgesic, antimicrobial, and reparative actions. Objective: To describe the available evidence on the use of photobiomodulation in nursing care for neonates and children. Materials and Methods: This is a structured scoping review based on the methodological guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The PCC mnemonic was applied, where P stands for population (neonates and children), C for concept (photobiomodulation), and C for context (healthcare). The databases searched were Web of Science, Science Direct, Embase, PubMed via MEDLINE, LILACS, BDEnf, WPRIM, and IBECS via the Virtual Health Library (VHL); in addition to the repositories: Preprints bioRxiv, Thesis and Dissertation Catalog, and OpenGrey. The results followed the guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Results: The final sample consisted of 11 studies, with a focus on diode laser application, all developed in the field of dentistry. It was evident that photobiomodulation is a promising and effective non-pharmacological method in nursing care for neonates and children. Conclusions: Photobiomodulation has a broad spectrum of action and is consolidating itself as a promising, safe, and easily applicable non-pharmacological treatment in child health care.