As practitioners dedicated to improving the outcomes for children who have experienced traumatic injuries, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest research. A recent scoping review, titled A scoping review of the needs of children and other family members after a child’s traumatic injury, provides valuable insights into the multifaceted needs of these children and their families. This blog will discuss how you can implement the findings from this review to enhance your practice and encourage further research in this vital area.
Key Findings from the Research
The review identified two main groups of needs: person-related and service-related. Here are the critical areas where needs were consistently unmet:
- Information Needs: Families often lacked sufficient information about their child's diagnosis, prognosis, and care plan, both during the acute and post-acute stages.
- Emotional Support: Emotional and psychological needs were frequently unrecognized and unmet, affecting both the child and their family members.
- Care Transitions: Transitions between care settings, especially from hospital to home and school, were points where support was often lacking.
- Educational Support: Schools were often unprepared to meet the specific needs of children returning after traumatic injuries, necessitating parental advocacy.
Strategies for Practitioners
To address these gaps, consider the following strategies:
- Enhanced Communication: Ensure that families receive clear, comprehensive information about their child's condition and care plan. Regular updates and accessible information can significantly reduce anxiety and improve care outcomes.
- Emotional and Psychological Support: Implement routine screening for emotional and psychological needs in both the child and their family members. Provide or refer them to appropriate counseling services.
- Care Coordination: Develop robust care transition plans that include detailed handovers between hospital, community, and educational services. Appoint a key worker to coordinate these transitions and provide ongoing support.
- Educational Integration: Work closely with schools to ensure they understand the child's needs and can make necessary accommodations. This might include training for teachers and the development of individualized education plans (IEPs).
Encouraging Further Research
The review highlighted a significant gap in standardized measurement tools to assess the needs of children and their families after traumatic injuries. Further research is needed to develop these tools and validate their effectiveness. As practitioners, you can contribute to this body of knowledge by:
- Participating in or initiating studies that explore the needs of children with various types of injuries, not just traumatic brain injuries.
- Collaborating with researchers to develop and test new assessment tools.
- Sharing your clinical observations and outcomes to help refine existing practices and develop new interventions.
Conclusion
By implementing these strategies and contributing to ongoing research, practitioners can significantly improve the rehabilitation outcomes for children with traumatic injuries. The need for information, emotional support, and coordinated care transitions is evident, and addressing these needs can lead to better long-term outcomes for both the child and their family.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: A scoping review of the needs of children and other family members after a child’s traumatic injury.
