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Medical Sciences Library

Pediatrics in Clerkship

Patient Education & Communication

Patient Education

Improves health outcomes and empowers self-care by providing accessible, easy-to-understand, and tech-friendly resources.

MedlinePlus & MedlinePlus Spanish

A comprehensive online health information resource for patients, families, and caregivers.

MedlinePlus Connect

Links patient-friendly content to electronic health records (EHRs).

  • How It Works:
    • Request Patient Education Information: You can enter diagnosis codes, medication, lab, and procedure codes.
    • Receive Links: EHR returns relevant patient education information.
    • Access Options: Available in English and Spanish via web application or service.

CDC Health Topics A–Z

Covers high-priority public health issues with patient-friendly materials like handouts, brochures, and videos.

UpToDate – Patient Education

Offers two levels of content to meet different patient information needs:

  • The Basics: Easy-to-read overviews addressing key questions.
  • Beyond the Basics: More detailed explanations using medical terminology for those who want deeper knowledge.

Patient Handover

Accurately conveying key information to a transition team during care handoffs is critical for maintaining patient safety and ensuring continuity of care.

Effective Handover Strategies

  1. Standardized Protocols and Checklists: Use structured tools like the I-PASS handoff framework, which includes elements such as Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situational awareness, and Synthesis by receiver. These tools help ensure completeness and clarity while minimizing information loss.
  2. Face-to-Face and Two-Way Communication: Direct interactions allow for clarification and immediate questions, reducing miscommunication. Employing closed-loop communication—where the receiver repeats key information to confirm understanding—further enhances accuracy.
  3. Limiting Interruptions: Create an environment free from distractions to allow for focused information exchange. This can include timing handoffs outside of high-traffic or peak activity periods.
  4. Comprehensive Information Sharing: Include critical details such as patient condition, treatment plans, potential complications, and post-operative care needs. This also involves integrating relevant documentation, like lab results or imaging data.
  5. Team Member Preparation: Both giving and receiving teams should review pertinent patient data beforehand. This readiness supports efficient and thorough handoffs.
  6. Training and Simulation: Regular training and the use of simulation exercises can help teams practice and refine handoff processes, aligning with best practices from other high-risk industries like aviation and nuclear power.

Sources

Barbeito, A., Agarwala, A. V., & Lorinc, A. (2018). Handovers in perioperative care. Anesthesiology Clinics, 36(1), 87-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anclin.2017.11.005

Lane-Fall, M., Pascual, J., Peifer, H., Di Taranti, L., Collard, M., Jablonski, J., Gutsche, J., Halpern, S., Barg, F., & Fleisher, L. (2020). A partially structured postoperative handoff protocol improves communication in 2 mixed surgical intensive care units. Annals of Surgery, 271(3), 484-493. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000003569

Communication with Children and Families

Effective communication with children and their families is essential in pediatric care; it builds trust, supports emotional well-being, and ensures accurate understanding and shared decision-making.

Tips for Speaking with Children

  • Speak with the child—not at or to them. Use respectful, developmentally appropriate language that acknowledges their autonomy and helps build trust.
  • Begin with a non-threatening topic (e.g., pets, favorite activities, superheroes) to create a sense of safety and connection.
  • Listen actively and with full attention. Maintain eye contact at the child’s level, reflect their feelings, and avoid interrupting.
  • Be mindful of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Nonverbal cues greatly influence how children interpret your message.
  • Use child-friendly activities—such as drawing, puppets, role-play, or storytelling—to help children express thoughts and emotions in a comfortable, age-appropriate way.
  • Explore fears and concerns gently. Try using stories, dolls, or third-person scenarios to make sensitive topics less direct and more approachable.
  • Try “magic thinking” prompts, e.g., “If you had 3 wishes or a magic wand, what would you do?”
    These imaginative questions tap into a child’s inner world and often reveal underlying hopes, worries, or unmet needs in a non-threatening, creative way.

Tips for Speaking with Families

  • Use plain language. Avoid clinical jargon, break down complex information, and check for understanding using teach-back techniques.
  • Explore the family’s understanding and beliefs. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think might be causing this?” or “What concerns you most?”
  • Invite them to share what they’ve already tried, including home-based practices, traditional remedies, or cultural approaches—this validates their efforts and builds rapport.
  • Pace the conversation based on emotional readiness. Be sensitive to stress levels and avoid overwhelming them with too much information at once.
  • Offer culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based resources, and be prepared to make referrals for emotional, educational, or social support when needed.

Source

Levetown M; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics. Communicating with children and families: from everyday interactions to skill in conveying distressing information. Pediatrics. 2008;121(5):e1441–e1460. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0565