Communication skills with children in paediatric anaesthesia: challenges while wearing a face mask

Area of Science:

• Medical communication
• Pediatric healthcare

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and widespread mask usage have underscored the importance of effective communication with children.
• Anaesthesiology consultants possess strong communication skills that foster rapid rapport and patient cooperation.
• Positive interactions are vital for hospitalized children, correlating with improved healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of communication skills in pediatric healthcare, particularly in the context of mask-wearing.
• To examine the communication techniques used by anaesthesiology consultants.
• To address challenges faced by trainees in communicating with children.

Main Methods:

• Review of communication strategies employed by anaesthesiology consultants.
• Analysis of the impact of mask-wearing on doctor-patient communication.
• Identification of key communication techniques for interacting with children.

Main Results:

• Anaesthesiology consultants exhibit excellent communication skills beneficial for pediatric patients.
• Effective communication enhances rapport and cooperation in hospitalized children.
• Mask-wearing presents unique challenges to communication with children, requiring specific techniques.

Conclusions:

• Mastering communication techniques is essential for healthcare professionals interacting with children.
• Specialized skills are needed to ensure effective communication in environments where face masks are common.
• Improving communication strategies can lead to better healthcare experiences and outcomes for pediatric patients.