Interaction of Health-care Professionals with Critically III Children and Their Parents

Abstract

The stress imposed on the emotional equilibrium of a team of health-care professionals by the serious illness of a child can disrupt communication among the team, the child, and the parents. Such stresses may be so severe as to interfere with the ability to the adults to meet the child's needs. Although the feelings and attitudes of critically ill children and their parents are well described in the medical literature, very little has been written about the psychosocial interaction among those responsible for the patient's care. Patterns of interaction which would be most beneficial to the child are still in doubt. The purpose of this article is to review available information, as well as experience at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, on the psychosocial interaction of the health-care team with critically ill children and their parents. An awareness of the difficulties of caring for such patients is essential in overcoming communication barriers, in reducing any interprofessional tensions that might arise during treatment, and in ensuring high-quality medical care.