Visiting the doctor’s office can be stressful for everyone. Let’s face it: the vibe in many healthcare settings lends itself to fear and anxiety. Those feelings are often more intense for kids due to their stage of development and their limited ability to fully express their thoughts and feelings. Children commonly report being anxious or afraid in healthcare settings, even when nothing painful is happening to them. Kids may worry about being separated from their parents, painful procedures like shots or blood draws, or general anxiety about the unknown. Fortunately, pediatric practices are recognizing the issue and its impact on their ability to care for young patients. Our office takes several concrete steps to ease children’s fears, and parents can help by preparing their children at home.
How Can Pediatric Practices Make Young Patients More Comfortable?
When kids are scared, it can be harder to get them the medical care they need. That’s why pediatricians are taking steps to create a more welcoming environment. We can use strategies including:
- Distraction tools like interactive games, fun books, wall pictures and upbeat music.
- Encouraging staff to adopt a warm and friendly manner.
- Using the patient’s name and making eye contact.
- Creating an office environment that is warm and welcoming, rather than cold and sterile.
We can also take a deep dive into improving how we communicate with young patients and their caregivers. One researcher, Dr. Julie Lerwick, developed the acronym CARE to encapsulate a multi-tiered approach to improving communication:
- Choice involves giving kids developmentally appropriate decisions about the appointment, usually small but meaningful things, such as which arm to use for blood pressure or which ear or eye to test first. This approach gives young patients a sense of agency in an environment where they often feel powerless.
- Agenda involves effectively preparing patients and families ahead of the appointment., Giving details about what is planned for the visit can reassure young patients and families. In addition to step-by-step explanations of what is happening throughout the visit, we can also provide patients with a simple rundown at the beginning of the visit – much like an agenda for a meeting.
- Resilience highlights patients’ strengths and minimizes negatives as we interact with them. It can involve reframing potentially embarrassing questions and discussing the child’s positive qualities, and avoiding blame and shame, which can sometimes happen even when we have the best intentions.
- Emotional support recognizes and normalizes common fears and responses. Providers can let patients know that it’s okay to show emotion and that they don’t always need to be tough.
5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Doctor’s Visit (Without the Tears)
As parents, we can support our children’s well-being and partner with their pediatrician by laying the groundwork for a positive office visit at home.
Talk with your child in advance about why you’re going to the doctor. If it’s a well visit, explain that the doctor needs to check on growth and development. If your child is sick, avoid scary language and focus on the doctor’s role in helping them feel better.- Let your child express their fears or negative feelings, and make sure they understand they aren’t to blame for their medical conditions.
- Your child can participate in the process and take an active role by preparing a list of their symptoms and questions to ask the doctor.
- You can help by role-playing and reading children’s books about children and healthcare ahead of their visit. This can help allay many common concerns.
- Finally, be a role model and remain calm as a parent. Your child takes cues from your words and overall approach. Share your concerns privately with the doctor instead of sharing everything in front of your child, and be mindful of how you express yourself in conversations with family and friends.
At Loudoun Pediatric Associates, we understand that shots can always be a little uncomfortable, and we can’t eliminate tears altogether. We also understand that there are many things we can do as practitioners to make things easier for young patients. Together with parents, we can improve how we prepare kids for appointments and how we communicate and engage with the children in our care. A few simple strategies and overall mindfulness can help everyone feel better.
