Exploring distraction and the impact of a child life specialist: Perceptions from nurses in a pediatric setting

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. e12242
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Drayton ◽  
Shannan Waddups ◽  
Tanya Walker
Keyword(s):  
Child Life ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Pediatric Setting ◽  
The Impact

Child Life Services in an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1269-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Lowenstein ◽  
Mackenzie C. Cervenka ◽  
Lauren Mitchell ◽  
Noelle Stewart ◽  
Eric H. Kossoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Staff Experiences ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Epilepsy Monitoring

The goal of this study was to determine the value of a certified child life specialist (CCLS) on the patient and staff experiences in an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). We integrated a CCLS into the EMU for all children as well as adults with intellectual disability. We surveyed families to determine the impact of child life services on their stay. EMU staff completed questionnaires to determine perceived impact to their job performance from the integration of the CCLS. All of the families (pediatric and adult patients) who responded to the survey reported the presence of the CCLS improved their hospital experience. Staff reported that the CCLS improved their daily work by allowing them to focus on their assigned medical duties. This preliminary pilot study suggests that CCLS can have a strong impact on the experience of patients and staff in an EMU.

„Child Life Specialist“-Interventionen in der klinischen pädiatrischen Versorgung: Ein systematischer Review zu Effekten auf psychische Gesundheitsparameter von Kindern und Jugendlichen

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hummel ◽  
Michaela Coenen ◽  
Varinka Voigt-Blaurock ◽  
Christoph Klein ◽  
Caroline Jung-Sievers
Keyword(s):  
Child Life ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Systematischer Review ◽  
Randomisierte Kontrollierte Studien ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Systematische Literatursuche ◽  
Kontrollierte Studien

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie Krankenhausaufenthalte können bei Kindern zu psychischen Belastungen führen, die in der Regelversorgung häufig nicht ausreichend adressiert werden. Ein neuer Ansatz ist es, spezialisierte psychosoziale Fachkräfte, sog. Child Life Specialists (CLS), in die klinische Versorgung einzubinden. CLS begleiten Kinder durch den Klinikalltag und können Belastungen durch gezielte Interventionen auffangen und das Wohlbefinden der PatientInnen fördern. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Effekte von CLS-Interventionen auf Angst, Schmerz und Stress von Kindern im klinischen Kontext zu analysieren. Methodik Es wurde eine systematische Literatursuche in den Datenbanken Medline, Embase und PsycINFO durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse wurden in tabellarischer und graphischer Form dargestellt. Ergebnisse Es wurden vier randomisierte kontrollierte Studien (RCTs) eingeschlossen, die die Effekte von CLS-Interventionen bei 459 Kindern im Alter von 0–15 Jahren untersuchten. Eine signifikante Verbesserung der Zielkriterien wurde jeweils in mindestens einer Studie berichtet. Bei allen Studien ist von einem mittleren bis hohen Verzerrungsrisiko auszugehen. Schlussfolgerung In den eingeschlossenen RCTs werden positive Effekte von CLS-Interventionen auf Ergebnisvariablen psychischer Gesundheit von Kindern im klinischen Setting berichtet. Aufgrund der geringen Anzahl von Studien sowie deren Heterogenität und Qualität ist weitere Forschung notwendig.

Child life interventions in paediatric pain

2013 ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Chantal K. LeBlanc ◽  
Christine T. Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Hospitalized Children ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
And Coping

Child life specialists, as members of the health care team, are frequently involved in the assessment and management of pain in hospitalized children and children in emergency settings. Child life refers to a non-medical therapeutic service designed to address the developmental, educational, and psychosocial needs of paediatric patients. Child life specialists are professionals who ‘promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization’ (Child Life Council, 2012a), including painful procedures and coping with other types of pain (e.g. postoperative pain). This chapter provides an overview of the role of a child life specialist, including a historical perspective on the evolution of the field and current child life practices. The chapter then provides a summary of the specific contributions of child life specialists to pain assessment and management, including innovative uses of technology often facilitated by child life specialists.

scholarly journals Development and implementation of a novel child life protocol to enhance psychosocial support for pediatric awake craniotomies: technical note

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. E5
Author(s):  
Michael M. McDowell ◽  
Daniela Ortega Peraza ◽  
Taylor J. Abel
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Studies ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Patient Experiences ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Awake Craniotomy ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Patient Tolerance ◽  
Eloquent Cortex

Awake craniotomies are a crucial tool for identifying eloquent cortex, but significant limitations frequently related to patient tolerance have limited their applicability in pediatric cases. The authors describe a comprehensive, longitudinal protocol developed in collaboration with a certified child life specialist (CCLS) in order to enhance patient experiences and develop resiliency related to the intraoperative portion of cases. This protocol includes preoperative conditioning, intraoperative support, and postoperative positive reinforcement and debriefing. A unique coping plan is developed for each prospective patient. With appropriate support, awake craniotomy may be applicable in a wider array of preadolescent and adolescent patients than has previously been possible. Future prospective studies are needed to validate this approach.

Child Life Programs

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-673
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Family Involvement ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Child Life Specialist ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Group Settings ◽  
Inpatient Settings

Child life programs have become the standard in pediatric settings to address the psychosocial concerns that accompany hospitalization and medical care. Child life specialists facilitate coping and the adjustment of children and families by providing play experiences, presenting information about events and procedures, and establishing supportive relationships with children and parents to encourage family involvement in each child's medical care. These activities are shared by other members of the health care team. The role of the child life specialist, however, is unique because it combines each of these services as the primary duty. The child life specialist focuses on the strengths and health of children.1 Most major hospitals for children have child life programs, and the number of these has doubled since 1965. The patient-to-staff ratio should not exceed 15 patients to 1 child life specialist. Child life or similar services should be offered by all hospitals. Most child life specialists work in inpatient settings, but they are increasingly serving outpatient populations. Certification of child life specialists is available through the Child Life Certifying Commission, which was established in 1986. PLAY Play is the core of the child life program. Play activities are offered both in group settings and individual sessions. Play opportunities in health care settings communicate a respect for and understanding of children. Play helps eliminate the distinction between the comfortable and familiar setting outside the hospital and the foreign and intimidating hospital environment. Play contributes to the child's adjustment in several important ways. By providing age-appropriate activities, the possibility that hospitalization may disrupt normal development is minimized.

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