Abstract
BackgroundParents of disabled children report poorer inpatient experiences when they stay in hospital, and some staff report finding communicating with disabled children challenging. This study tested the feasibility of implementing a training package for staff on paediatric wards to improve communication with disabled children, especially those with communication difficulties, and their families. The package was developed with parent carers and clinicians, and comprises a manual, a video of parent carers talking about real experiences, discussion points and local resources. The 50‐minutes training is intended for in‐house delivery by local facilitators.MethodsThirteen training sessions were delivered in paediatric wards across four hospitals in England, totalling 123 staff who took part. Participants completed questionnaires before (n = 109) and after (n = 36) training, and a sample of champions (senior clinicians) and facilitators were interviewed at the end of the study.ResultsFacilitators found the training easy to deliver, and participants felt they took away important messages to improve their practice. After the training, further changes were reported at an organizational level, including offering further training and reviewing practices.ConclusionsThis study provides supporting evidence for the implementation of a low‐cost, minimal‐resource training package to support staff communication with children and their families in hospitals. It provides promising indication of impact on behavioural change at the individual and organizational level.Patient and public contributionParent carers identified the need and helped to develop the training, including featuring in the training video. They were also consulted throughout the study on research design, delivery and reporting.
Highlights
Parents of disabled children report poorer inpatient experiences when they stay in hospital, and some staff report finding communicating with disabled children challenging
Staff report a reliance on parents to inform them about their child's needs,[6] and parents describe a real need for a partnership with professionals in their child's care.[7]
This study provides evidence that local in-house nurses, practice educators and clinical specialists were able to deliver a focused educational session using our training manual and supporting videos to staff at several different hospitals where children are inpatients
Summary
Parents of disabled children report poorer inpatient experiences when they stay in hospital, and some staff report finding communicating with disabled children challenging. Conclusions: This study provides supporting evidence for the implementation of a low-cost, minimal-resource training package to support staff communication with children and their families in hospitals. It provides promising indication of impact on behavioural change at the individual and organizational level. Patient and public contribution: Parent carers identified the need and helped to develop the training, including featuring in the training video. They were consulted throughout the study on research design, delivery and reporting. Staff report a reliance on parents to inform them about their child's needs,[6] and parents describe a real need for a partnership with professionals in their child's care.[7]
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Schedule a callMore From: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy
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