Communication techniques
Communication techniques should vary significantly depending on the child\’s developmental stage (i.e. infant, pre-school, school age, and adolescent) and the reason of the office visit. Effective pediatric communication must consider verbal, nonverbal, and electronic methods, and engage both the child and their parents (Fuzzell et al., 2018).
?Since infants cannot communicate verbally, it is important for a provider to pay attention to the infant\’s non-verbal communication signs such as smiling, crying or cooing, to understand their needs, as well as involve patients’ observations and input ?(Diaconescu & Moisa, 2015). ?When speaking to an infant during assessment, speak in a calm, soothing voice to comfort the infant. When speaking to parents, use clear, straightforward language to explain medical information often using late man’s terms as they may not understand certain medical terms. Listening attentively to parents’ concerns without interrupting, showing empathy and providing reassurance about their child\’s health can build much effective diagnosis and plan of care of an infant.During each well childcare visit, providers should explain anticipatory guidance on each stage of expected developmental milestones, safety, and common health issues in infancy, including sleep safety, feeding, immunizations, and developmental screenings, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ?(Dinkevich & Ozuah, 2002).
For pre-school aged children, they can be scared and shy about the whole doctor’s office visit so it is important to encourage parental involvement in their care. Pre-school aged children may not understand medical procedures and treatments so the provider should use simple explanations and utilize toys and dolls to ease their anxiety. For anticipatory guidance for pre-school aged children, discuss with parents and child about injury prevention, healthy eating, toilet training, and early learning activities ?(Paden & Molloy, 2019).
For school-aged children, they are pretty much independent and is able to involve in their own care so engage directly with the child, allowing them to ask questions and express concerns. If necessary, providers can provide detailed explanations appropriate for their understanding. Provide anticipatory guidance on school performance, peer relationships, nutrition, physical activity, and safety measures like wearing helmets and seat belts? (Paden & Molloy, 2019).
For adolescents (13-18 years), it is important to respect their need for privacy and confidentiality, particularly with sensitive issues like sexual and mental health. Involve them in decision-making about their care. Promote open dialogue about their concerns. Offer anticipatory guidance on puberty, mental health, substance use, sexual health, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle ?(Diaconescu & Moisa, 2015).
While it is generally understood that communication between healthcare providers and parents is important, in the study titled “Parents’ adherence to pediatric health and safety guidelines: Importance of patient-provider relationships” by Fuzzell et al. (2018), the researchers explored the significant impact of the patient-provider relationship on parent highlights just how crucial a strong, trusting relationship is in ensuring parents follow recommended guidelines. The degree to which the quality of this relationship can impact adherence. Pre-screening can help providers prepare more effectively for consultations. With prior knowledge of a parent\’s adherence levels and concerns, providers can gather specific resources, anticipate questions, and prepare tailored advice, leading to more efficient and productive interactions.
References
Diaconescu, S., & Moisa, S. M. (2015). Communication with pediatric patients: more than a medical act. International Journal of Communication Research, 5(4), 333–336. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1783989647?accountid=169658&parentSessionId=EML5i46sHVaV7bJj1edFoj1RrWQrwj%2F6ljovr%2F%2Bd%2FdA%3D&pq-origsite=summon&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
Dinkevich, E., & Ozuah, P. O. (2002). Well-child care: Effectiveness of current recommendations. Clinical Pediatrics, 41(4), 211–7.
Fuzzell, L. N., LaJoie, A., Smith, K. T., Philpott, S. E., Jones, K. M., & Politi, M. C. (2018). Parents\’ adherence to pediatric health and safety guidelines: Importance of patient-provider relationships. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(9), 1570–1576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.05.003
Paden, M. E., & Molloy, M. A. (2019). Group activity: Application of pediatric developmental stages in planning age-appropriate care. Nurse Educator, 44(2), 115–115. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000576
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