Communication Skills in Pediatrics
Prepared by:
Dr. Salma Elgazzar
MRCPI Pediatrics
Masters’ in Pediatrics/Alexandria University
Definition
Communication skills in pediatrics involve interactions between pediatricians, patients, and their parents.
Importance of Effective Communication in Pediatrics
Effective communication in pediatrics can:
- Increase diagnostic accuracy.
- Improve patient adherence to treatment.
- Reduce litigation.
- Enhance patient satisfaction.
- Improve overall health outcomes.
Communication skills are essential in pediatric practice and, like all other medical skills, can be learned and improved through training and regular practice.
Important Tools for Effective Communication in Pediatrics
- Make the environment comfortable.
- Rapport: Warm up the child and their parents to you.
- Body language.
- Communicate on the level of both children and parents.
- Empathic Statements: Communicate concern about the patient.
- Reflective Listening: Communicates that the clinician has truly “heard” the patient’s concerns by reflecting on the patient’s intrinsic message.
- Silent Listening.
- Open-ended Statements: Neutral statements that encourage patients to share and elaborate on their concerns.
- Permitting Patients to Ask Questions.
Additional Communication Tools
- Clarification.
- Summarizing.
- Providing Information.
- Positive Feedback.
- Reassurance.
- Follow up.
10 Tips for Effective Patient Communication
- Active Listening
- Show Empathy
- Use Simple Language
- Be Mindful of Cues
- Be Honest and Transparent
- Follow-up
- Manage Time
Structured Approach for Communication
- Introduction
- Rapport: Warm up to you.
- Clarify Your Role
- Conduct of the Interview
- Check Prior Knowledge
- Touching Patient’s & Parents’ Concern
- Appropriate Explanation & Negotiation
- Accuracy of Information
- Summary
- Give Written Information
- Follow up
Scenario 1
Situation:
Mona is the mother of Yehia, who is 2 days old. She started breastfeeding him, but now she is suffering from breast engorgement and has decided to stop breastfeeding completely.
Task:
Advise Mrs. Mona about the causes of this problem and how to deal with it. Also, highlight the great benefits of continuing breastfeeding for her baby.
Information Giving Scenario
Introduction
- Introduce yourself to Mrs. Mona and congratulate her for giving birth to Yehia.
Rapport
- Warm up with her and try to maintain rapport throughout the meeting.
Clarify Your Role
- Today, we are here to discuss managing breast engorgement to support continued breastfeeding and to explore the benefits of breastfeeding.
Conduct of the Interview
- Check Prior Knowledge: Ask an initial question about the benefits of breastfeeding and knowledge on breast engorgement.
- Clear Appropriate Explanation: Explain to the mother:
- There are great benefits to breastfeeding for the baby and the mother.
- Explain to her the causes of breast engorgement.
- “Don’t forget to check her follow-up of what you are telling.”
Educating on Breast Engorgement
- The mother must remove the breast milk.
- If the baby can attach well and suckle, then she should breastfeed as frequently as the baby is willing.
- If the baby is not able to attach and suckle effectively, she should express her milk by hand or with a pump a few times until the breasts are softer, so that the baby can attach better, and then get him or her to breastfeed frequently.
- She can apply warm compresses to the breast or take a warm shower before expressing, which helps the milk to flow.
- She can use cold compresses after feeding or expressing, which helps to reduce the edema.
Summary
- Summarize what you have told her, offer written advice, and allow her to ask questions.
- Give written information and offer to connect her with a group of breastfeeding mothers to exchange experiences.
- Referrals if needed.
- Follow up
Scenario 2
Situation:
Yara is the mother of Ahmed, a 5-month-old boy who is exclusively breastfed. Yara has been experiencing severe sore nipples for the past 2 weeks, which has been affecting her ability to feed her baby.
Task:
Explain to Yara how to manage sore nipples and maintain breastfeeding.
Scenario 3
Situation:
Hanan is the mother of Lama, a 3-month-old girl who is exclusively breastfed. Hanan has finished her maternity leave and will return to work next week. She is considering stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula feeding.
Task:
Discuss with Mrs. Hanan the possibility of maintaining breastfeeding while working, and explain how she can do so effectively.