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Should parents share medical information with their young children? A prospective study
Amichai Ben Ari1, Daniella Margalit2, Yitzchak Roth2
1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Israel; Herman Dana Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Insights
Sharing medical information with children about invasive procedures reduces their long-term post-traumatic stress. This study found an inverse correlation between information disclosure and chronic stress in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Medical Traumatology
Background:
- Psychiatric consultants frequently address the dilemma of disclosing invasive procedure details to young children.
- No prior studies offered evidence-based guidance on this disclosure practice.
- This study prospectively investigated the link between information sharing and chronic post-traumatic stress in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if sharing medical information with young children undergoing invasive procedures correlates with the development of chronic post-traumatic stress.
- To provide an evidence-based answer to the question of disclosure in pediatric medical settings.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 151 children aged 3-13 hospitalized in a pediatric surgery ward.
- Parents independently chose to share (104 children) or not share (47 children) procedure information.
- t-Tests analyzed the correlation between information exposure and long-term post-intervention stress.
Main Results:
- An inverse correlation was found between children's exposure to medical information and their level of post-traumatic stress.
- This significant correlation was observed several months after the medical event.
- The findings were consistent across both preschool and school-aged children.
Conclusions:
- Implementing psychoeducation programs for medical staff and parents is recommended.
- These programs should emphasize the importance of sharing medical information with children facing medical challenges.
- Promoting open communication can mitigate long-term psychological distress in pediatric patients.
Background:
As psychiatric consultants to pediatric wards, we are often asked whether to disclose to young children full information about the invasive medical procedures they face. To date, no studies have been published offering an evidence-based answer to this question. This prospective study examined whether sharing medical information with young children regarding invasive interventions correlates with the development of chronic post-traumatic stress three to five months after hospitalization.
Method:
The participants in this prospective study were parents of 151 children aged 3-13 who were hospitalized in a pediatric surgery ward. The sample was representative of the population hospitalized in this ward during that year. Independent of the study, parents of 104 children chose to share with them information regarding the procedure they were about to undergo, while parents of 47 children chose not to do so. t-Tests were used to assess the correlation between the children's exposure to medical information and their level of long-term post-intervention stress.
Results:
Findings show an inverse correlation between the children's exposure to medical information and their level of post-traumatic stress several months after their medical episode. The correlation is significant in both preschool children and school-aged children.
Conclusions:
We suggest the implementation of psychoeducation programs among both medical staff and parents in order to increase awareness of the importance of sharing medical information with young children facing medical challenges.
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