Exploring the implementation of child life services with facility dogs.

Many children's hospitals around the United States have programs in which a trained facility dog goes to work daily with a psychosocial healthcare worker, typically a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). CCLSs help children and their families cope with the stress of a healthcare experience by utilizing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore how CCLSs incorporate facility dogs into their treatments and gain their perspectives on handling a facility dog. Participants, four CCLSs, completed a checklist, which assessed patients seen by facility dogs for 10 workdays, and a semi-structured interview. Participants primarily saw patients of ages three to five years and aided with general anxiety and coping support. Findings indicated the dog's specific training, therapeutic value, and ability to bond with patients allowed these interactions to be successful and impactful. This study provides information about the benefits of facility dogs for child life programs and presents data for programs that are considering incorporating this therapeutic modality into their services offered.

Memories of adult survivors of childhood cancer: Diagnosis, coping, and long-term influence of cancer.

This study examines adult childhood cancer survivors' memories about diagnosis, coping, and life effects of cancer.This qualitative study used inductive content analysis to analyze open-ended responses completed in a survey conducted in 2018.27 adult survivors (15 male, 12 female) of childhood cancer, ranging in age from 20-39, who were at least 5 years post treatment.Participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk responded to a survey which included open-ended questions about experiencing childhood cancer to examine their: (1) memories of initial reactions to cancer; (2) memories of coping during cancer; and (3) reflections of the cancer experience on who they are today.Inductive content analysis was performed to reveal categories related to the stories shared by participants regarding their memories of childhood cancer experiences. Participants' memories of diagnosis reflected categories such as psychological reactions and family support. Memories of coping reflected themes of family support and distraction. Participants' reported strength and resilience as impacts of cancer on their present lives.These findings indicate that survivors of childhood cancer have strong, specific memories about diagnosis and coping during cancer and highlight the potential long-term implications of having cancer. The findings also illustrate the importance of appropriate psychosocial support for childhood cancer patients and survivors.

Computer tablet distraction reduces pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients undergoing hydrotherapy: A randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Distraction is often used in conjunction with analgesics to minimize pain in pediatric burn patients during treatment procedures. Computer tablets provide many options for distraction items in one tool and are often used during medical procedures. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of tablet distraction in improving the care of pediatric burn patients. AIM: This study examines the effectiveness of tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist to minimize pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients undergoing hydrotherapy. METHODS: Thirty pediatric patients (4-12) undergoing hydrotherapy for the treatment of burns participated in this randomized clinical trial. The tablet distraction group received tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist while those in the control group received standard care. Pain was assessed through self-reports and observation reports. Anxiety was assessed through behavioral observations. Length of procedure was also recorded. RESULTS: Nurses reported significantly less pain for the tablet distraction group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between groups on self-reported pain. The tablet distraction group displayed significantly less anxiety during the procedure compared to the control group. Also, the tablet distraction group returned to baseline after the procedure while those in the control group displayed higher anxiety post-procedure. There was no difference in the length of the procedure between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist may be an effective method for improving pain and anxiety in children undergoing hydrotherapy treatment for burns.

Computer Tablet Distraction in Children Receiving an Injection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a computer tablet as a distraction tool for minimizing pain and distress in children undergoing an injection. DESIGN: Using an experimental design, the subjects were randomly assigned to either participate in tablet distraction or receive no distraction during an injection. SETTING: A pediatric clinic in a small city in the Southeast region of the United States. SUBJECTS: Forty-one children, ages 4-11 years, who were receiving an immunization and their parents. METHODS: During an injection, children either participated in distraction using a computer tablet or did not receive distraction according to their group assignment. Children's emotional response was assessed using a behavioral observation to examine distress. Pain was also measured using a behavior observation scale. After the injection, children reported the level of pain they felt during the injection. RESULTS: A significant difference was found for pain, both self-reported and observed, and observed emotions. Children receiving distraction using a tablet displayed significantly higher amounts of pain and negative emotions. Gender differences in pain and emotions were found with females having a significantly higher amount of pain and negative emotions. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a tablet as a distraction was not effective in decreasing pain and distress in children receiving an injection.

The relationship between mothers' coping patterns and children's anxiety about their hospitalization as reflected in drawings.

This study explored the relationships between hospitalized children's anxiety level, mothers' use of coping strategies, and mothers' satisfaction with the hospital experience. Twenty-four hospitalized children and their mothers participated in this study. Children were asked to draw a person in the hospital, which was then coded as a projective measure of anxiety; mothers were asked to complete questionnaires on their coping behaviors and their satisfaction with their child's hospital experience. The use of more coping strategies by the mothers was related to less anxiety in the children. In addition, the more coping strategies the mothers used, the higher they reported their satisfaction. The findings suggest the importance of providing resources aimed at increasing maternal coping and satisfaction with the quality of care of a child's hospitalization in order to minimize the negative effects of the hospitalization on the children.

Play and video effects on mood and procedure behaviors in school-aged children visiting the pediatrician.

This study examines how different types of activities, including medical play, typical play, and videos, affect the mood and behaviors of children visiting a pediatric office. Seventy-two school-aged children visiting a pediatrician's office were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: medical play, medical information video, typical play, and nonmedical information video control. Children completed a mood self-report measure and their behaviors were recorded during triage by nurses. The medical information video improved the school-aged children's mood. Children in the medical information video displayed less difficult behaviors during procedures than the medical play group. The findings suggest that providing information about medical equipment through a video of a child engaging in medical play may benefit children visiting the pediatrician.