Child Life-Facilitated Coping Support With Adult Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Pilot Program

Abstract

Purpose With little empirically known about the translation of child life services into adult patient populations, the purpose of this pilot project was to explore the feasibility of offering non-pharmacological child life support to adult cardiac surgery patients. Specifically, the aims were to explore the practical feasibility of extending and integrating child life care into this adult healthcare service, as well as the preliminary perceptions of adult patients who participated in the pilot program. Methods A pilot program was designed to provide child life care to an initial group of 11 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a large academic medical center in the midwestern United States. Patients were randomized into a control condition consisting of standard pre- and post-cardiac surgery care or an intervention condition that involved five coping support interactions with a Certified Child Life Specialist serving as a “comfort coach.” Patient perceptions were gathered via telephone survey at the conclusion of the study, and insights into practical feasibility were gathered from associated study staff, clinical team members, and leadership to understand stakeholder experiences with the program. Results According to the feedback gathered, it appears that Certified Child Life Specialists can be clinically and practically integrated into adult cardiac surgery populations without patient care disruption. Additionally, feedback from program participants suggested that child life services were appreciated and seen as a beneficial component of the cardiac surgery experience. Conclusion This study suggests that it is both possible and practical to extend non-pharmacological coping support from Certified Child Life Specialists into adult cardiac surgery care, and this appears to be a desirable service from patient and staff perspectives. Future research is needed to evaluate the effects of child life services on specific outcomes in this population specific to anxiety, pain management and overall patient experience and care satisfaction.