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| Child Life News Monthly
The Latest News and Research Relevant to Child Life | |
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Welcome to the newest benefit of CLC Membership - Child Life News Monthly. Each month you will receive the latest child life news and research updates, delivered straight to your email box, and also available through the CLC Web site. Enjoy! |
 RESEARCH |
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| Nonpharmacological Approach Alleviates Pain of Vaccination for Newborns |
Pediatrics * November 2009
A recent clinical trial demonstrated that a combination of nonpharmacologic analgesic measures can be effective in decreasing acute procedural pain in term infants. The partially blinded study compared 640 healthy newborns receiving an intramuscular injection of hepatitis B vaccine. The newborns were randomly assigned to 4 groups: no treatment (routine); oral 25% dextrose treatment; skin-to-skin contact continuing through the procedure; and a combination of the dextrose and skin contact techniques. Pain scores (Neonatal Facial Coding Systemand Infant Pain Scale) were compared at each stage of the procedure, revealing improved results for newborns in both the oral dextrose and skin-to-skin contact groups, and even better outcomes for the newborns receiving the combined treatment.
Journal Reference
Chermont, A.G., Magno Falcão, L.F., Laurindo de Souza Silva, E.H., Cássia Xavier Balda, R., Guinsburg, R. Skin-to-skin contact and/or oral 25% dextrose for procedural pain relief for term newborn infants. Pediatrics, 124(6), 1101-1107.
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| Music Alleviates Anxiety in Children Undergoing Acupuncture in China |
In a recent randomized controlled trial, researchers at the Shenzhen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China demonstrated that music can relieve anxiety in children with cerebral palsy undergoing acupuncture, although it did not seem to reduce their pain. In the study, 60 children listened to either their favorite music or a blank disc for a half hour during treatment, and were assessed using anxiety and pain scales (mYPAS, CHEOPS, Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale) and vital signs measurements. The authors suggest a need to investigate the effects of different types of music specific to treatment, and to measure whether there is any impact on side effects of acupuncture.
Journal Reference
Haibo, Yu, Yongfeng, L., Shuzen, L., Xiaoming, M. Effects of music on anxiety and pain in children with cerebral palsy receiving acupuncture: a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 46(11), 1423 - 1430.
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| Home-Based Guided Imagery Protocol Yields Positive Results in Alleviating Abdominal Pain |
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To answer the challenges associated with chronic abdominal pain in children, researchers developed an affordable, home-based guided imagery treatment protocol using audio and video recordings. To test the protocol, 34 children with a diagnosis of functional abdominal pain were randomly assigned to two groups: the first had two months of home-based guided imagery treatment along with standard medical care; the second group received standard care only for the first two months, then was provided guided imagery treatment. Both groups were monitored for six months, with the guided imagery group reporting positive impressions of the treatment materials, and 63.1% of children responding to treatment. Of the children who initially received only standard medical care, 26.7% were treatment responders; however, when the guided imagery protocol was added after two months, that response rate increased to 61.5%. Researchers conclude that the combination of standard medical care with guided imagery is the most effective in managing pain, and further suggest that the home-based solution has the potential to alleviate challenges previously associated with providing behavioral therapies for children, such as cost, investment of time, and the need to have a trained therapist present.
Journal Reference
Van Tilburg, M.A.L., Chitkara, D.K., Palsson, O.S., Turner, M., Blois-Martin, N., Ulshen, M., Whitehead, W.E. Audio-recorded guided imagery treatment reduces functional abdominal pain in children: A pilot study. Pediatrics, 124(5), 890-897.
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| Parent Interactions Impact Perceptions of Cancer among Preschool Age Children |
Journal of Child Health Care * November 2009 According to the results of a recent study, parents who have spoken with their preschool-age children about cancer are more likely to provide an accurate interpretation of their children's understanding of cancer, and their children are more likely to report having some knowledge of the disease. In the study, researchers compared parent's perceptions of their children's understanding of cancer (collected in questionnaires) with their children's responses (collected through interviews). The interviews revealed that children who report knowing about cancer generally associate it with something medical, bad or harmful, or describe it as a sickness.
Journal Reference
Varkula, L.C., Resler, R.M., Schulze, P.A., McCue, K. Pre-school children's understanding of cancer: the impact of parental teaching and life experience. Journal of Child Health Care, 2009.
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| Stressful Events May Impact Medical, Emotional Outlook for Children with HIV |
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes * November 2009
Stressful life events (SLEs) can have significant implications for the psychological and medical wellbeing of children infected with HIV, say researchers reporting on a recent cross-sectional study of 55 vertically infected children. In the study, caregivers identified SLEs that had transpired in the past 6 months, and both children and caregivers assessed the child's level of depression and anxiety. This information was cross-referenced with concurrent demographic and medical data. Trends identified included:
- School related SLEs were the most common, and predictors of depressive symptoms.
- According to caregiver reports, children who had disclosed their diagnosis were more anxious, had lower CD4 counts, higher viral load levels and were more likely to have been hospitalized than nondisclosers.
- The number of loss-related SLEs predicted viral load levels, and one or more financially-related SLEs correlated with lower CD4 counts and more frequent hospitalizations.
Journal Reference
Elliott-DeSorbo, D.K., Martin, S., Wolters, P.L. Stressful life events and their relationship to psychological and medical functioning in children and adolescents with HIV infection. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 52(3), 364-370.
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| Assessing Parent Perspectives on Family-Centered Care in Pediatric Oncology |
In a Canadian study designed to explore parental perceptions of family-centered care in pediatric oncology settings, researchers evaluated questionnaires completed by 411 participating parents of children with cancer. Responses related to family demographics, the child, and diagnosis/treatment were measured using MPOC-20, a validated analysis tool consisting of two subscales: "Family Centered Services" and "Provision of General Information." The analysis revealed lower ratings from the parents with the worst perceptions of the prognosis, as well as parents with poor psychosocial health. Unmarried parents tended to have lower ratings for the Family-Centered Services subscale, and scores for the Provision of General Information subscale varied depending on the treatment facility. Researchers suggest that these results can support future efforts to enhance family-centered care.
Journal Reference
Dix, D.B., Klassen, A.F., Papsdorf, M., Klaassen, R.J., Pritchard, S., Sung, L. Factors affecting the delivery of family-centered care in pediatric oncology. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 53(6), 1079-1085.
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| CHILD LIFE & THE NEWS |
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Child Life Makes Strides in Dental Settings |
Baylor Dental Journal * 2008-2009
Child's Play: Learning to Cope
Over the past few years, Certified Child Life Specialist and Registered Dental Hygienist Cinda McDonald has been a key player in two studies exploring the use of child life in dentistry. The first study, initiated by a team of professors at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (HSC-BCD), examined the effectiveness of child life interventions in uncooperative children ages 4 to 8. The group teamed up with McDonald to develop a series of child life tools and interventions customized to the pediatric dental setting. In her sessions with children participating in the study, McDonald used tools including a homemade teaching book, model dental instruments, and special dolls to help children prepare for procedures. The preliminary data reveals positive outcomes for children receiving a child life intervention-including enhanced coping skills, decreased anxiety and improved cooperation-as well as positive feedback from parents.
In the wake of this initial success, with the support of a $25,000 grant, McDonald is collaborating on a second study to evaluate the effect of child life interventions on older children who are uncooperative due to previous negative experiences at the dentist. The research team hopes that their findings will pave the way for funding for a larger, long-term study.
Read Full Article
To access the article, click on the journal cover, then advance the slides to page 24.
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A Pediatrician's Advice to Parents on Preparing for a Child's Surgery |
momlogic.com * Dr. Nina Shapiro * November 25, 2009
My Child is Having SurgeryThese tips will help you (and your child) be your best on the big day According to pediatrician Dr. Nina Shapiro, "Nobody wants surgery, especially for their child. But if it has to be done, a little prep goes a long way." She offers tips for parents on how to care for themselves in order better support their children on the day of the surgery, suggesting they talk about the upcoming experience, both with family and friends, as well with the medical team, asking plenty of questions to ensure a full understanding of the treatment plan. In order to prepare children, Dr. Shapiro strongly advises that parents be honest about what is to come, using age-appropriate explanations to discuss specific types of surgeries or procedures, and enlisting the aid of children's books, toy medical equipment and dolls. She cites child life specialists as a helpful resource for setting up tours and orientations, as well as offering opportunities for play during their child's stay at the hospital. On the day of the surgery, Shapiro advises parents to relax, maintain a positive attitude, eat a good meal, and to, "...pack as you would for a very long plane flight that has no limits on carry-ons."
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Festival of Trees and Lights Benefits Blank Children's Child Life Program |
KCCI News Des Moines * November 25, 2009
Children's stories shine through at festival
In a local newscast, the child life program at Blank Children's Hospital is highlighted as the primary beneficiary of funds raised during the annual Festival of Trees and Lights in Des Moines. The feature focuses on the experiences of 12-year-old Tyler Cross, who lives with a genetic skin disease that requires frequent visits to the hospital and long and painful dressing changes. Tyler is one of the many children who appreciate the support of child life specialists. "They're like my friends, [they] help me, other people," says Tyler. The Festival of Trees and Lights has provided more than $4.6 million in financial aid for child care and special programs in central Iowa.
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| Child Life Celebrates 65 Years at Johns Hopkins |
Johns Hopkins Children's Center * December 1, 2009
Sixty-five years ago, parents of young patients at the Harriet Lane Home for Invalid Children (the predecessor of Johns Hopkins Children's Center) were allowed only an hour-long visit twice per week. Helen Schnetzer, then Chief of Pediatric Nursing, was convinced of the need for nurturing and developmentally appropriate play, which the nursing staff was not equipped to provide. With support from the director, she enlisted a child development instructor to develop a play program with student volunteers and special instruction for nurses. The program has evolved over the years, with milestones including the opening of today's Hopkins Children's building in 1964, when the play program moved from nursing to the Department of Pediatrics and was renamed child life. "With the advent of scheduled play and bedside diversions," says Jerriann Wilson, who directed the child life program from 1972-2005 , "board members said they no longer heard crying on the wards and patient units."
A complete history of the program is available on the Johns Hopkins Web site.
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| Internist Praises Experience as Visitor in Bellevue Pediatric ER |
Psychology Today * Danielle Ofri * December 4, 2009
In praise of public hospitals
When her six-year-old son was injured in a bicycling accident, Danielle Ofri, a practicing internist at New York City's Bellevue Hospital, was faced with a choice: take her son to the "top-tier" neighborhood private hospital, or go to Bellevue. Knowing it has a dedicated pediatric ER, Ofri opted to take him to Bellevue, despite common perceptions that public hospitals are "hospitals of last resort." For the first time, she had the opportunity to view the hospital as a visitor rather than an employee, and she was impressed with her experience. "I marveled at how subdued the atmosphere was, compared to what I knew regular ERs were like," Ofri writes, "...when we were called in to see the doctor, my son had to be pried away from the fish tank." She highlights the professionalism of all the staff, including the pediatric resident, nurse, and child life specialist. "In a situation that could easily have caused anxiety in a small child, my son was well cared for and felt completely at ease. I walked away from the experience proud of Bellevue and proud of public hospitals in general."
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Shriners Child Life Specialist Helps Boy with Burns Prepare for 'Life on the Outside' |
Cincinnati Enquirer * Peggy O'Farrell * December 9, 2009
Burn victim, 13, heads home at last As thirteen-year-old Brandon Pierce prepares to go home after a four-month stay at Shriners Hospital for Children-Cincinnati, he celebrates completing 18 surgeries and weeks of intensive physical therapy. But he knows that he has more battles ahead of him. After a fire accident that left him with burns covering 80% of his body, he'll require additional surgeries and daily physical therapy to keep his skin and muscles flexible. With the help of Shriners child life specialist Katie Schaball, CCLS, as well as other hospital staff, Brandon will also be adjusting to being out in public after living in the sheltered hospital environment. Schaball accompanied Brandon and his family on a "field trip" to the local mall. "There were some stares, and there will be more after Brandon goes home," she says. "Some people are curious, and it's a chance for him to be a teacher, if he wants to, and to educate people about what's happened." A hospital staff member will visit Brandon's classmates at his school to explain what to expect when he returns.
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Disclaimer: Child Life News Monthly is a service of the Child Life Council intended to generate member awareness of the latest news and recently-published research that may be of interest to the child life professional community. CLC makes no representations as to the quality or accuracy of the articles summarized herein.
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