A Horse in the Hospital: The Importance of Collaboration between Infection Prevention and Child Life Specialists

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. S24
Author(s):  
Jessica L. McClusky ◽  
Mallory Davis
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Child Life Specialists

scholarly journals Connecting home and hospital life : cultural influence in child life practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E Butterly
Keyword(s):  
Large City ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Cultural Influence ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Culturally Responsive Practices ◽  
Resource Needs ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
The Individual

The changing demographics of illness necessitate the provision of complex care practices designed to meet the individual needs of families from diverse backgrounds. Providing psychosocial care to paediatric patients, child life specialists integrate processes designed to better understand their patients, thus informing their plans of care. Through the use of Grounded Theory, this study involves 7 child life specialists from a large city in Ontario and explores the processes implemented by child life specialists in getting to know their patients and families. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews and a reflective journaling exercise was examined for evidence of cultural influence and a greater understanding of child life specialists' perceived comfort and ability was explored. The results of this study suggest child life specialists engage in culturally responsive practices, however several barriers and challenges exist. Resource needs are identified and implications for practice are examined.

scholarly journals Implementation of a Humanoid Robot as an Innovative Approach to Child Life Interventions in a Children’s Hospital: Lofty Goal or Tangible Reality?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya N. Beran ◽  
Jacqueline Reynolds Pearson ◽  
Bonnie Lashewicz
Keyword(s):  
Humanoid Robot ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Innovative Approach ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Lofty Goal

IntroductionThis study reports the findings on how Child life specialists (CLSs) implemented an innovative approach to providing therapeutic support to pediatric patients.MethodsPart of a larger study that uncovered themes about CLSs’ experiences while working with MEDi®, this study reports the reflections that CLSs have about the process of implementation. Seven CLSs participated in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was conducted on interview data and three themes were generated.ResultsThe first was in regards to the adoption process whereby CLS challenges, successes, and surprises were revealed. Second, CLSs explained how using MEDi® aligned with the roles and responsibilities of their profession. The third area of understanding was in CLS explanation of the friendly emotional impact MEDi® seems to have on the hospital environment.ConclusionChild life specialists are encouraged to use the MEDi® robot to support children at the bedside.

scholarly journals Pain in Children: Assessment and Nonpharmacological Management

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha Srouji ◽  
Savithiri Ratnapalan ◽  
Suzan Schneeweiss
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Developmental Level ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Pain Assessment Scales ◽  
Assessment Scales

Pain perception in children is complex, and is often difficult to assess. In addition, pain management in children is not always optimized in various healthcare settings, including emergency departments. A review of pain assessment scales that can be used in children across all ages, and a discussion of the importance of pain in control and distraction techniques during painful procedures are presented. Age specific nonpharmacological interventions used to manage pain in children are most effective when adapted to the developmental level of the child. Distraction techniques are often provided by nurses, parents or child life specialists and help in pain alleviation during procedures.

„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.

Why Is She So Distressed?

2020 ◽  
pp. 275-284
Author(s):  
Daniel Waechter Webb ◽  
Megan J. Thorvilson
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Life Meaning ◽  
Spiritual Beliefs ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Difficult Times

Illness often raises many questions related to humanity and life meaning both for children and their families, and many lean on spirituality to sustain them in difficult times. When one’s ability to experience and integrate meaning in life becomes disrupted, patients may experience spiritual distress, which can present in physical, psychological, and social ways. The majority of pediatricians acknowledge a positive role for spirituality in healing, in strengthening the therapeutic relationship, and in providing support for patients/families, yet clinicians often feel ill-equipped to address spirituality with families. However, most parents would prefer to be open about their spiritual beliefs and practices with their medical team. In addition to the clinician, chaplains, child life specialists, social workers, and psychologists can support the evolving spiritual needs of children as they grow and develop.

Factors Affecting the Professional Well-Being of Child Life Specialists

1996 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin K. Munn ◽  
Clifton E. Berber ◽  
Janet J. Fritz
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Factors Affecting

scholarly journals Child Life Specialists in Pediatric Hospital Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Kokila Jeyamurugan ◽  
◽  
Ratna B Basak ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Hospital Care ◽  
Palliative Care Team ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Pediatric Palliative Care ◽  
Pet Therapy ◽  
Pediatric Hospital ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Form Part

Child life specialists (CLS) are trained providers who form part of a pediatric multidisciplinary and pediatric palliative care team. Their role is invaluable to mitigate the stress and anxiety of children during hospitalization. They may use various strategies in children like play, art and music therapy and pet therapy, to help self-express and cope with painful procedures.We present a brief narrative on CLS with a case of a 10- year- old Hispanic boy who had metastatic osteosarcoma.The case illustration is from a prior institute that one of the coauthors was associated with.

Using social robot PLEO to enhance the well-being of hospitalised children

2020 ◽  
pp. 136749352094750
Author(s):  
Clara J Moerman ◽  
Rianne ML Jansens
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Social Robot ◽  
Child Life ◽  
Physical Stimulation ◽  
Child Life Specialists ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Play Material ◽  
Multiple Case

Hospitalisation is stressful for children. Play material is often offered for distraction and comfort. We explored how contact with social robot PLEO could positively affect a child’s well-being. To this end, we performed a multiple case study on the paediatric ward of two hospitals. Child life specialists offered PLEO as a therapeutic activity to children in a personalised way for a well-being related purpose in three to five play like activity sessions during hospital visits/stay. Robot–child interaction was observed; care professionals, children and parents were interviewed. Applying direct content analysis revealed six categories of interest: interaction with PLEO, role of the adults, preferences for PLEO, PLEO as buddy, attainment of predetermined goal(s) and deployment of PLEO. Four girls and five boys, aged 4–13, had PLEO offered as a relief from stress or boredom or for physical stimulation. All but one started interacting with PLEO and showed behaviours like hugging, caring or technical exploration, promoting relaxation, activation and/or making contact. Interaction with PLEO contributed to achieving the well-being related purpose for six of them. PLEO was perceived as attractive to elicit play. Although data are limited, promising results emerge that the well-being of hospitalised children might be fostered by a personalised PLEO offer.

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