[Reducing fear in preschool children during clinical examinations].
In the author's hospital, pre-intervention observations showed that almost three-quarters (73%) of all pre-school aged children visiting a clinic showed signs of fear, which affected the attitudes of other children, disturbed the general environment, created tense relationships between doctors and patients, and affected the quality of medical treatment. Primary reasons for fear among these young patients include lack of child-friendly settings, the attitudes of nursing personnel, nurses' appearance, a lack of tools and techniques especially designed to attract children and hold their attention, and the frightening appearance of examining tools. An action team was formed to respond to the perceived needs identified during these observations. Changes that were recommended and accepted were redecorating all pediatric clinics, changing the uniforms of pediatric nurses, purchasing special toys for use during examinations, changing the external appearance of examining tools, and offering inservice classes on reducing fear among visiting children. As a result of these changes, the percentage of pre-school aged patients exhibiting signs of fear in the hospital's outpatient clinics fell to 37%.
Hsu
Hisu-Man
HM
Sinlau Hospital, Madou Branch, Taiwan, ROC. slh18@sinlau.org.tw
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003933:Diagnosis; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D002666:Psychology, Child