How is pediatric care different from geriatrics?

 We had learnt a lot about pediatrics from the past few weeks, now let us compare pediatrics and geriatrics care. But before that, allow me to introduce what geriatric is through the video below :

Now that we know what geriatric is, we can list down some of the differences between pediatrics and geriatrics care.

DECISION MAKING

Pediatric patients 

• Parents will be involved and discuss with the patient to decide the treatment to be taken. The stereotype of making decisions for pediatric patients only involving parents should be diminished as the children also have the right to their future. The patients that can be in the discussion is patient who can understand the situation that they are in should be included in the discussion of decision making ( ex: a 6-year-old patient).   

Geriatric patients

• The children of the patient will be involved in decision making. Yet, the patients will be dominant to make the decision while the children are the ones who give support and suggestions.

COMMUNICATION

Pediatric patients

• Healthcare personnel need to communicate at their eye level so that we caught their attention to listen. 

Geriatric patients

• As a person starts to age, the hearing ability will begin to decline. Thus, it is proper for the healthcare personnel to face the patient so that the voice can be heard clearly.

SUPPORT (NO OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL REQUIRED)

Pediatric patients

• Usually, pediatric patients have smaller built as they are still in the process of growth, so only a few healthcare personnel are needed.

Geriatric patients

• Geriatric patients fall in the ‘elderly’ stage of the human life cycle where they are not as strong as before. Thus, they will need support from others to move. Quite a number of healthcare personnel needed to support them to move because of bigger built and heavier body mass compared to pediatric patients.

-Fasehah Hani

Reference :

https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/bioethics-from-pediatrics-to-geriatrics/ 

Criterias Needed for Pediatric Caregivers

Generally, caregiver with more  knowledge are expected to manage the pediatrics' better. Therefore, there are numbers of criteria that must be met in order for them to be able to provide quality care to pediatrics.

1. Good communication skills: A caregiver should be able to communicate effectively with the pediatrics. This includes their behaviour, health progress with potty training and interactions with the other children at the facility.
2. Child development knowledge:  A caregiver who has worked with children before, has a background in child development, or has years of daycare experience is more likely to know what makes them tick.
3. Have patience: In general, we know that early childhood will be a bit of a patience test. An impatient caregiver is more likely to lash out at small children or children who refuse to share.
4. Nurturing:  A caregiver with a nurturing personality can provide pediatrics with a sense of security and comfort.
5. Be responsible: A caregiver should constantly supervise the children and make responsible decisions to ensure their safety.

- Haleena Shakira

How to take care of pediatric patients?

 Catering pediatric patients required us to master the know-how to ease the process. They have their own tantrum which can be hard to control. Here is some know-how to cater for the little buddy :

Let them open up to you

    Children can be defensive when meeting strangers, thus, as someone who has to deal with pediatric patients, we have to introduce ourselves in a manner that caught their attention.  Then, we start to have a little chit chat with them to help them open up to us. For instance, we can talk about the topic that they are interested in.

Build trust

    When the patients open up to us did not mean they trust us yet. Therefore, we have to gain and build trust. One of the ways is to listen to them. When they see and felt that we listen to them, trust will slowly build between patients and us. Especially teenagers. 

Create comfortable environment

    From a children’s point of view, the hospital is perhaps one of the scary places for them. To lessen the feeling, we as healthcare personnel should create a brighter ambience for the children to be comfortable.

Communicate on their level

    The range of age for pediatric patients cover from 0 to 18 years old which have different levels of maturity. Hence, we have to use a simple expression so that they understand the information that we are trying to deliver. To illustrate, when pediatric patients come to a radiology department for an examination, we need to explain the procedure using the vocabulary of their level.

Engage with parents

    For pediatric patients who are too shy to speak, we can try to gain information with assistance from the parents.

- Fasehah Hani

Reference :

https://etactics.com/blog/pediatric-patient-parent-communication-tips 

https://medschool.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=1158&action=detail&ref=806 

Role of Pediatrics Caregiver

Basically, pediatricians can be called as second parent for babies and kids in hospital and healthcare centre. They are also Healer Of Children who do their best to protect a beautiful and young children. In conclusion, the role of pediactrician are most important to make sure can address child's health in good wellness. 

1)PRESERVE A SECURE, FRIENDLY AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

-Ensure pediatrics patient safety by limiting harm

-Allow children enjoying hospital's environment by amusing them with toys

-Prevent children fall sick by maintaining a clean and sanitary surroundings

2)HAVA AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH CHILD'S PARENT AND FAMILY RELATIVES 

-Able to educate children and parents in the establishment of good habits and promote healthy lifestyle

-Helps parents in decision making as a guidances so they are not lost by giving some opinion and should not force them

-To get an informed consent from patient's parent for further treatment

3)PROVIDE A QUALITY CARE

-Taking a good care with a proper attitudes and acquired skills during the management of the patient

-Protect the children from any violation such as abuse, maltreatment and discrimination

4)FACILITATE THE ACKNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL CONDITION AND MANAGEMENT PLANS TO PATIENTS AND PARENTS 

-Always shares the updated news that related to child's health and well-being to guardian

-Allows parents to participate in discussion of child's care so they can understand, get clear information and able to cope with the condition

5)GIVE MORAL SUPPORT AND COUNSELING 

-Provide appropriate counselling and psychosocial support for patient and also parents to strengthen their capability and positivity

-Offers health motivation for parents to change bad behavior for sake of their child's health so that they can live in healthier way

by julia syakirah

What is pediatric care?

Pediatrician

/ˌpiːdɪəˈtrɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

A medical practitioner specializing in children and their diseases.

Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in treating children from infancy to adolescence. They are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital diseases, infectious diseases, and chronic medical conditions that affect children. In other words, pediatrics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the physical, mental, and social well-being of children. Pediatric care includes a wide range of health services, from preventive care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases.

- Misha Diana

Bonjour! :D

 Hi everyone! 

Welcome to our blog. This blog is specially made for people who wonder about the care of pediatric patients in this world. 

I wanted to welcome everyone and let everyone know how much we appreciate all of you spending your time at this blog. As life moves so quickly, we really appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to enjoy reading our blog!

Your special writers, 

Nuramisha Diana Bt Tamson (2019196)

Haleena Shakira binti Ramlee (2018536)

Julia Syakirah bt Mohd (2017570)

Nur Fasehah Hani Binti Sharani (2016724)