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Principle 9: Protection from distressing sights, sounds, activities & experiences


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Introduction

The following is one of a group of principles which recognise the particular needs of children and young people receiving health and disability support services. The principles describe what should be provided when your child or young person receives those services. They are based on expert opinion and a considerable body of literature in New Zealand and overseas and they have been developed after wide consultation. See all the principles listed in Principles: what health and disability services should provide for your child or young person.
 

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Protection from distressing sights, sounds, activities and experiences

Principle: Children and young people should be protected from physical and emotional pain, trauma and distress.
 
Health care and disability support providers should take all steps to minimise physical and emotional pain, trauma and distress.
 
Children and young people are exposed to many unfamiliar and distressing sights and sounds when they are in health and disability settings. Coping with these and with the experience of being sick or disabled is very stressful for them. (See Helping your child manage their health care treatment / procedure and Children's painful procedures and operations - how can parents help? and Play, recreation, creative activities and education).
 
You can expect that health providers will make every effort to minimise these traumas and protect children and young people from them as far as possible. Specifically, you can expect that:
  • all invasive procedures for children and young people will be accompanied by adequate pain management - sometimes this might be an anaesthetic (see Pain)
  • there will be appropriate explanations of procedures and psychological preparation and support from nursing and medical staff; many hospitals have play specialists who should be involved in preparing your child for procedures (see Information ... (children and young people) and Information ... (family / whānau))
  • children and young people are protected from distressing sights, sounds, activities and experiences, including inappropriate television and radio
  • appointments are appropriately arranged and waiting rooms are appropriate for children and young people
  • children and young people are not subjected to unnecessary repeat investigations and treatments (such as multiple attempts to insert an intravenous drip, poorly co-ordinated blood tests)
  • painful and invasive treatments are carried out in the treatment room
  • if your child is in hospital, their bed is “safe”; that is, free from painful treatments
  • there is protection from noisy disturbed patients in hospital   

You may ask:

  • is clinical equipment hidden from sight?
  • are children encouraged to have familiar and favourite items from home?
  • are families encouraged and supported to be with their children?
  • are procedures arranged for when a family member can be with the child or young person?
  • are procedures and tests co-ordinated appropriately?
  • if your child or young person is in hospital or other residential health care facility, do they have accommodation separate from adults?
  • if your child is in hospital, is there a play room available for them to use? 

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Where to go for more information

On this website
 
Hospital Play Specialists Association
Play specialists may be able to advise you on how to help your child cope with illness, treatment and hospitalisation.
Postal address: P O Box 26637, Epsom, Auckland.
 

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Acknowledgements

 

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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 20/10/2010

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz