By Carrie Woodard
As parents, we hope that taking our child to the hospital is an experience we never have to go through. Of course, that’s not realistic for many. Broken bones, stitches and sudden illnesses may be part of the family story, whether we like it or not. How can we lessen the concerns and anxieties for our children before they undergo a medical procedure?
Erika Parsons, MS, is a busy wife and mom of three to Ada (5), Charlie (3) and Daphne, who’s just under a year old. As a Certified Child Life Specialist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, she’s an expert on the subject. For Child Life Month in March, she shares her knowledge.
What are some common fears or anxieties children have about medical procedures?
One of the biggest fears we encounter in the healthcare setting is the “fear of the unknown.” Kids are often afraid of things they don’t understand or have no reference for. This can apply to something as small as just entering the building, with the overwhelming size of the hospital itself and the rooms filled with strange medical equipment, to something bigger like an actual procedure, X-ray, MRI or CT scan.
What role does age play in preparing a child for a medical procedure? How should strategies differ for younger versus older children?
Developmentally appropriate preparation is huge! This stretches further than just chronological age, however. It is important to prepare the child based on the age or stage they fall developmentally. As Child Life professionals, we operate on this principle for when to start preparing kiddos for upcoming medical appointments:
• Toddlers: Day of
• Preschoolers: 1-2 days before
• [School-age children]: 5 days before
• Adolescents: > 5 days before
Both school-age patients and adolescents need time to process what is coming. They need time to work through questions and concerns and have space to feel comfortable addressing them with their grown-up.
Another important concept we rely on is visual aids. Especially for school-age and under, it is much more impactful to use pictures and real materials in preparation to help them understand what to expect. Reach out to the office ahead of the appointment and ask them to send you pictures or ask if you can come take your own to show your child. Recently, I had a dental appointment a week before my 3- and 5-year-olds. I asked the hygienist to take my picture multiple times throughout the appointment. I printed these out and showed my kids the day before their own appointments. It made a big difference!
How important is honesty when explaining medical procedures to children, and how should parents balance this with ensuring they feel safe?
Honesty is a principle that we cannot stress enough! There is significant research showing that children have less anxiety, cope more effectively and cooperate faster and easier when they have some level of what to expect and can trust the medical team. We unfortunately see the opposite quite a bit, and when kids think they are coming to the hospital “just to talk” to the doctor and find out at the last second that they require a poke or invasive procedure, the procedure often ends up taking twice as long and patients walk away with trauma and mistrust for any future medical appointments.
The easiest way to answer questions from kids that we feel uncomfortable or unsure about answering is to say, “I don’t know. We will find out together when we get there.” Never promise anything. Emphasize that whatever happens, you are going to do it together, that your child is strong and brave and that the hospital or doctor’s office is a safe place meant to keep them healthy and help them feel better.
Are there any recommended resources parents can use to help their child understand an upcoming procedure?
The UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) website offers many resources, including videos made for kids. Preparation booklets exist for just about every procedure done at CHP. If they don’t exist or you can’t find one for your child’s upcoming procedure or appointment, all you need to do is reach out to a Certified Child Life Specialist and they can create one for you! (chp.edu/our-services/child-life)
Reach out to your local library or look up episodes of “Daniel Tiger” or your child’s favorite TV show to see if they have an episode about the doctor. I also wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to the office directly and ask for pictures or a verbal run-down of what to expect!
Final Words of Wisdom
As a parent, my advice is to call the medical team ahead of time to ask them to walk me through each step of the procedure. The more prepared you feel, the more
relaxed and confident you will be, and therefore the more comfortable your child will be. Children pick [up] on parental anxiety easily. Even if you never say that you are nervous or worried about the procedure, or even results, your body language tells it all.
There are also resources to help siblings and classmates when a patient has a lengthy hospital stay, a chronic diagnosis or a particularly difficult procedure. There’s power in knowledge and safety in support. We are so fortunate to live in a city that has such an amazing children’s hospital and resource like the Child Life Team!
Carrie Woodard is a National Certified Counselor, National Certified School Counselor and a Pittsburgh mama of two.