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Article History

Received: 25 August 2025

Accepted: 12 December 2025

First Online: 18 December 2025

Declarations

:

: This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval of this study was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya on October 2022. Then, the permission to conduct the study in the hospital was obtained from the Director of Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Children’s Hospital, Peradeniya and Consultant Pediatricians of the relevant wards. Participants were informed about objectives of the study, and the confidentiality of collected data, emphasizing that only the research team would have access to the data. A consent form was attached to the questionnaire to ensure voluntary participation, maintaining participant autonomy. In addition, participants were instructed that their decision to participate or decline would not affect any services they received at the hospital. It was also explicitly mentioned that no financial benefits would be provided for participation. Participants were informed that they could decline participation or withdraw from the study at any point, even after providing initial consent. They were allowed a reasonable time to decide on voluntary participation before written consent was obtained. To ensure anonymity, the questionnaire did not collect any personal identification data; instead, identification numbers were assigned to each questionnaire. Written consent that was obtained from all of the participants was informed regarding the objectives and the procedure of the study.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.