| Description |
The goal of child life specialists is to make the hospital experience easier for pediatric patients and their families. They play numerous roles, from preparing for and supporting children during medical procedures to providing support to healthy siblings of sick children, educating other healthcare professionals, and advocating for the patient and his/her family. Child life specialists implement these strategies in order to alleviate the anxiety and distress that can occur with hospitalization. However, there is little research examining specific roles of child life specialists. Although some previous research has examined child life programs and child behavior during hospitalization (e.g., in the playroom, in an inpatient room), this research examines child life specialist intervention, along with specific child life strategies, while children are being administered procedures. For this study, procedures referred specifically to IV insertions. Results indicated that child life intervention was related to lower distress in children ages 2-7 years, but was not related to lower overt distress in patients 8-20 years, perhaps because of a floor effect. The most common strategy used by child life specialists was distraction, whereas the least common strategy was providing an opportunity for a position of comfort. The child life strategy of providing support during a procedure was significantly related to lower distress in patients aged 8-20 years. |
