Creating a Sensory-Friendly Pediatric Emergency Department

Wood, Elyssa B.; Halverson, Allyson; Harrison, Gina; Rosenkranz, Amanda

doi:10.1016/j.jen.2018.12.002

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Hospitalization is challenging for AP due to the complexity of multiple inherent characteristics associated with autism. Two studies suggest that feelings of vulnerability can escalate to anxiety or sensory issues, heightening challenging behaviour (Muskat et al, 2015; Wood et al, 2019). Studies highlight the importance of all staff and care providers being aware of the heterogeneous nature of AP and ways to mitigate the varied challenges to improve the hospital experience (Gupta et al, 2019; Maloret & Scott, 2018; Nicholas et al, 2016).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a response, parents may associate negative experiences with hesitancy and perceive it challenging to decide whether it is worth exposing AP to hospital admission. Some parent's express willingness to travel long distances to hospitals with well‐trained staff who can provide the special needs care required by AP (Nicholas et al, 2016; Wood et al, 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Autistic patients' experiences of the hospital setting: A scoping review

Greenwood,

Cooklin,

Barbaro

et al. 2023

Journal of Advanced Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

AimTo explore the factors that affect the experiences of autistic patients in the hospital setting.DesignA scoping review.Data SourcesA systematic literature search using the databases CINAHL, Medline and Google Scholar was undertaken in September 2021 and updated in January 2023. This review is based on the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley (International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1):19–32, 2005), which was further refined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews.ResultsAutistic patients, as well as their families and healthcare staff, face several barriers that can impact their healthcare experiences within hospital settings. Of 211 articles screened, 30 were eligible and included. Through our review, we identified two main themes. The first theme, ‘challenges to hospital experiences’, includes four sub‐themes: (1) communication, (2) a mismatch between the needs for autistic patients and the hospital environment, (3) challenges related to parents' experiences and (4) challenges related to hospital systems. The second theme, ‘facilitators that improve hospital experiences’, includes three sub‐themes: (1) provision of care pathways, (2) partnership between parents and experts and (3) facilitators to improve hospital systems. By understanding these themes, we can work to address the barriers that autistic patients and their families face, while leveraging the facilitators to improve their hospital experiences.ConclusionIt is critical to understand the experiences of autistic patients in the hospital setting because they present a substantial risk of hospital admission due to their associated acute to chronic health conditions. Additionally, nurses and other medical staff must understand the unique hospital experiences and challenges of autistic patients to improve care and facilitate better hospital experiences. This review further highlights the crucial need to adopt a collaborative and inclusive approach between autistic patients, their families and healthcare staff. To achieve this, co‐design initiatives that incorporate the perspectives and lived experiences of the autistic community are necessary. By placing autistic voices at the forefront of these initiatives, it is hoped that changes are meaningful, relevant and can be sustained.ImpactUnderstanding the unique hospital experiences and challenges of autistic patients can improve their quality of life and well‐being by reducing stress and anxiety during hospitalization, leading to better health outcomes and potentially shorter hospital stays. It can also promote a more positive view of healthcare among autistic individuals, encouraging them to seek medical care when needed and have broader societal impacts such as reducing healthcare costs and improving the overall health and well‐being of the population. Autistic patients present a substantial risk of hospital admission due to their associated acute to chronic conditions. Nurses and other medical staff must understand the unique hospital experiences and challenges of autistic patients to improve care and facilitate better hospital experiences.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autistic patients' experiences of the hospital setting: A scoping review

Greenwood,

Cooklin,

Barbaro

et al. 2023

Journal of Advanced Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Listening to and working with children with autism and their parents/carers to identify challenges and develop ways to ameliorate barriers to care is important. Preventative measures that address both hospital and patient systems issues need to be implemented to ensure maximum effect and provide suitable hospital environments in the same way that has been done, for example, with autism‐friendly approaches 19–21 . In summary, this study provides a snapshot of aggressive incidents at one Australian quaternary paediatric hospital.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preventative measures that address both hospital and patient systems issues need to be implemented to ensure maximum effect and provide suitable hospital environments in the same way that has been done, for example, with autism-friendly approaches. [19][20][21] In summary, this study provides a snapshot of aggressive incidents at one Australian quaternary paediatric hospital. A larger, multisite study with international collaboration would give greater clarity to this global issue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural emergencies in a paediatric hospital environment

Mitchell

Newall

Williams

2022

J Paediatrics Child Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim Aggression and high‐risk behaviours triggered by children in paediatric hospitals are increasing globally. There is a paucity of research describing behavioural emergencies in paediatric acute care settings. Methods We conducted a 1‐year retrospective study of behavioural emergencies that triggered an emergency response team attendance in a quaternary paediatric hospital. Results In 2018, 218 children triggered 1050 behavioural emergencies, which utilised 386 h of the emergency response team time. Thirty‐three (15%) children triggered more than five activations each (range 6–272) and nearly half (16) were children with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability. More than 80% of children who triggered an emergency team response also had at least one psychiatric co‐morbidity. Conclusions Behavioural emergencies, by definition, put staff, children or their families at risk. They occur frequently in hospital with some children repeating these behaviours despite allocation of resources and expertise. New approaches to prevention and amelioration are needed.

show abstract

“…The ED environment can be challenging for children with neurodisability due to factors including unfamiliar environment, sensory overload, interaction with unfamiliar hospital staff, decreased ability to process complex information and limited communication skills 16–18. This can cause increased patient distress, worsening behaviour and safety risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent-reported factors associated with the emergency department presentation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disability with behaviours of concern: a qualitative study

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the parent-reported factors contributing to the emergency department (ED) presentation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (autism) and/or intellectual disability (ID) with behaviours of concern (BOC).DesignQualitative study using semistructured interviews. Data were analysed phenomenologically using inductive thematic analysis.SettingThe ED of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, a tertiary paediatric hospital.Participants14 parents and/or carers of children and adolescents with autism and/or ID who presented to ED for management of BOC.ResultsThree themes emerged from the data: (1) Parents and carers had difficulties navigating the healthcare system and accessing appropriate community supports prior to their child’s ED presentation; (2) Families presented to ED due to an inability to manage risk and/or contain their child’s behaviour, compounded by carer burn-out; (3) Presentation to ED was considered a last resort option for many families. The ED was generally unable to assist families in the ongoing management of their child’s BOC, leading to a potential need to re-present in future.ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for families of children with autism and ID and associated BOC to have improved access to appropriately skilled community health professionals, allowing their BOC to be addressed as they emerge rather than at crisis point. The findings additionally highlight the need for changes to the delivery of acute care in the management of BOC, to minimise patient distress and maximise safe and satisfactory patient outcomes.

show abstract

Creating a Sensory-Friendly Pediatric Emergency Department

Cited by 30 publications

References 16 publications

Autistic patients' experiences of the hospital setting: A scoping review

Autistic patients' experiences of the hospital setting: A scoping review

Behavioural emergencies in a paediatric hospital environment

Parent-reported factors associated with the emergency department presentation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disability with behaviours of concern: a qualitative study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About