Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals Flashcards
Assessment of “Stress Potential”
Level 1; Children were in generally stable medical condition with a good prognosis
Level 2; Differ from level 1 because of factors such as behavior, the remaining length of their hospital stay, or anticipated future admissions
Level 3; Patients with chronic diagnoses/familiar with hospital staff and procedures
Level 4; Current hospitalization posed a notable threat to the child’s or family’s ability to cope
Level 5; Imminent or recent experience of intensive care, trauma, and/or emergency room care was a common factor
Sharing Information with the Family
Ways children tend to respond to illness, injury, and treatment at different stages of development; methods of effectively supporting child patients; how to facilitate therapeutic health care play; ways to prepare children for future healthcare experiences; and specific teaching regarding the child’s medical situation and treatments
Child life interactions involving positive touch include…
Holding, rocking, and patting young children; returning hugs initiated by patients and family members or initiating hugs when assessed as appropriate or needed; massage of the face, hands, or feet; and casual touches on the hand, arm, or back to communicate warmth and concern
Psychosocial Interventions
Emotional support; interaction with a consistent, supportive member of the healthcare team may contribute to a reduction in children’s emotional distress during hospitalization
Preparation for healthcare procedures; the presentation of basic procedural information, often requiring little active participation from the child
Parental involvement; providing parents with information and emotional support, their feelings of anxiety and discomfort may be reduced
Play; children, of their own accord, may use play to cope with stresses accompanying health care
Communication techniques used to ensure children are processing information effectively include…
Consistent supportive interactions; anticipatory guidance; psychological preparation, play interactions; and expressive activities
Care providers need to work closely with parents and family members to…
Assess their understanding and threat appraisal of each situation; provide family members with information and anticipatory guidance to reduce stress and emotional distress; refer families to other health team members when appropriate; and assist families in supporting and caring for their children
Care providers can provide psychosocial support in a variety of ways…
Spending supportive time with a child and family before, during, and/or after significant health care events; communicating with children and families in ways that reflect their natural language; respecting children’s and families different characteristics and needs; providing understandable, developmentally appropriate, and accurate information and reassurance; being empathetic and nonjudgmental; conveying sincere interest in the child’s welfare; engaging the child in play activities and interactions; and providing support and information to parents and other significant family members
Child life staff used informal observation, interactions, and spontaneous conversations with families to gather valuable information about issues such as…
The child’s likes and dislikes; the child’s typical behavior and responses; the amount and type of support the family would be able to offer the child during hospitalization; special needs of concerns regarding brothers and sisters, or other family members; parents concerns, ideas, or suggestions regarding hospital practices and polices; and parents perceptions, understanding, and feelings related to their child’s health care experiences
Facilitating Communication Between Child and Family or Home- Families are encouraged to…
Let children know when parents, other family members, and friends are leaving; be specific as possible about their estimated time of return; call to explain or leave a message when their plans changed; bring or send audio or videotapes of parents, family members, and friends from home; bring photographs and familiar objects from home; and leave something of theirs for the child to keep until they returned
