Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Depiction of Health 2008-9058 17 1 2026 03 24 A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Analysis of Hospital Staff Perspectives on Traffic-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents: Challenges and Proposed Interventions in East Azerbaijan Province 44 59 10.34172/doh.2026.05 EN Leila Mohammadinia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3665-0286 Laleh Haj Hasan Gharaei https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0368-4332 Raheleh Janani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0036-7254 Journal Article 10.34172/doh.2026.05 2025 02 26 2025 11 23 Background. Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of mortality and hospitalization among children. The mortality rate from these accidents in Iran is approximately double the global average, with East Azerbaijan Province accounting for a significant proportion of the country's road fatalities. Given the substantial health, economic, and social burden of traffic accidents and the scarcity of comprehensive research in this area, this study aimed to conduct a hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences and perspectives of emergency staff regarding the challenges and strategies for managing pediatric and adolescent traffic injuries over the past decade. Methods. This qualitative study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Participants were selected via purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria comprised emergency department staff with at least two years of experience managing traffic-related injuries in children and adolescents. Sampling continued until data saturation was achieved, which occurred after semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. The interviews focused on experiences with pediatric traffic injuries, barriers to prevention, and strategic recommendations for improving safety. All interviews were transcribed and subjected to content analysis using MAXQDA20 software. Results. Based on thematic analysis using Van Manen’s approach, four main themes and 11 sub-themes emerged. The themes included: 1) Care-related challenges (sub-themes: staffing issues and equipment shortages); 2) Pediatric-specific issues (sub-themes: age-related challenges and lack of parental awareness); 3) Injury characteristics (sub-themes: severity, anatomic location, vehicle type, and timing of injury); and 4) Preventive strategies (sub-themes: education, promoting safety culture, and environmental safety improvements). Conclusion. Road safety policies and education must incorporate targeted strategies to improve child safety, with specific goals for injury prevention and reduction in this demographic. Furthermore, hospital preparedness such as encompassing both equipment and staffing is a critical component in improving survival outcomes for injured children.