Communicating With Sick and Hospitalised Children

Abstract

This paper is concerned with preparing paediatric patients for hospitalisation. It is concluded that most work has focused on children requiring short-stay hospitalisation for minor surgery. All of the main techniques in use (pamphlets, video or pre-admission nursing contact) appear more beneficial to the patient and family than routine care, but no method is superior. Little attempt has been made to modify the technique according to the age of the child. It is suggested that greater benefits to the child might occur where information about illness is made appropriate to the child's cognitive level. The implications of developmental changes in children's beliefs about health and illness for such education are discussed.

Preoperative psychological preparation for children undergoing ENT operations: a comparison of two methods

“…Several authors have described how patients may react with fear and anxiety prior to unknown situations during hospital stay. This is especially true for children, who may find it hard to understand why they must suffer painful investigations and treatments and who may even perceive their illness as a form of punishment for their own wrong‐doing ( 1, 2). One important reason for child and parent anxiety has been shown to be the absence of adequate information and communication.…”

“…There are many studies on children’s reactions during minor operations and induction of anaesthesia with or without preparation, and also with different kind of tools to facilitate their understanding. These have shown that any attempt to promote communication with children and their parents is superior to routine information and care, especially if this is individualized to age and cognitive maturation of the child ( 2, 4).…”

Liaison child and adolescent psychiatry

“…However, mothers of diabetic children have only a short period of selfresolving depression after diagnosis, and then seem to be well-adjusted (Kovacs, 1982). Much more is known about maternal than paternal coping (Eiser, 1990), but where comparisons have been made, mothers show poorer adjustment than fathers. Although parents of children with physical disease are not more likely to divorce than parents of well children, they are more likely to experience marital distress (Sabbeth & Leventhal, 1984).…”

“…Interventions have included reading and other audio-visual material, traditional education, play, art therapy, and coun selling. Although there have been efforts to evaluate some of this work, much of it has been methodo logically flawed and, in particular, has failed to take into account children's developmental status (Eiser, 1984). Nevertheless, most studies show that any attempt to improve communication between hospital and family has some beneficial effect.…”

The role of psychology in the teaching of medical ethics: the example of informed consent

“…Adults involved with children in medical settings need to be sensitive to the ways in which they use and interpret language. Their understanding of concepts such as health and illness may be very different from an adult's (Eiser 1984), and children often consider illness to be a punishment for bad or prohibited behaviour (Blos 1978). Thus there are many implications for asking children for their consent which will vary depending on the situation.…”