​Overall learning objective

Healthcare professionals must be able to establish trust and understanding in order to collaborate with children, adolescents, and their parents.

Doing so requires training in relationship building and age-appropriate communication. These skills can promote a sense of safety, trust and participation among children, adolescents and their parents regarding their illness, treatment, care and rehabilitation.​

The communication model "Mind the child"

The communication model "Mind the Child" is developed to support healthcare professionals in communicating with children, adolescents, and their parents in a systematic and attentive manner.
We have created a folder based on the communication model and six learning objectives. The folder provides inspiration and practical advice for communicating systematically with children and adolescents (Download it from the 'Materials' section on the right).​

Development of the material​

The work has been informed by existing communication models and related l​iterature.

An interdisciplinary working group and steering group with management involvement at Rigshospita­let – Copenhagen University Hospital developed and refined the com­munication model, six learning objectives and specific competencies in 2023–2024 during workshop discussions.

In developing the educational programme the Mary Elizabeth's Hospital's user panel provided the perspectives of the children and adolescents. An international study was used to obtain the perspectives of healthcare professionals. ​

Contributors

The communication model, learning objectives, and competencies have been developed with the expertise of:​

• Line Klingen Gjærde, PhD, postdoc, doctor in training, Depart­ment of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital
• Jakob Thestrup Hansen, MScGH, PhD student, Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital
• Jette Led Sørensen, PhD, consulting physician, professor, Mary Elizabeth's Hospital and Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital
• Barbara Esbjørn, PhD, psychologist, psychotherapy specialist and supervisor, Head of Section for Research and Development, CAMES, Capital Region of Denmark
• Julie Høgh, psychologist, Department of Crisis Psychology, Rigs­hospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital
• Lisbeth Gath, psychologist, Department of Crisis Psychology, Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital
  

Please address any comments or questions to Jette Led Sørensen: jette.led.soerensen@regionh.dk

Read more about the research and education team at Mary Elizabeth​s Hospital here

Additional inspiration and resources

• Video collection on interactions between healthcare professionals and children:
  Krauss B et al. Managing the Frightened Child, Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2018
  (The videos can be found on the right under "Supplementary materials".)
  
• ISupport: Rights-based standards for children having health care tests, treatments, examinations or interventions