​The project is based on children's rights and aims to explore whether training healthcare professionals in communication and play can increase motivation to involve children and adolescents in their own treatment. It includes perspectives from both healthcare professionals and children and adolescents.

The PhD project is integrated into the development and testing of an educational programme, which you can read more about at the following link​: Communication and play with children adolescents in the healthcare setting​

Protocols:

• ​Thestrup J, Sørensen JL, Bidstrup PE, Rosthøj S, Hybschmann J, Esbjørn BH, Dybdal D, Barslund K, Topperzer MK, Frandsen TL, Gjærde LK. Effect on healthcare professionals’ self-efficacy of a 45-min versus 3-hour educational intervention on communication and play in paediatric clinical practice in Denmark: a randomised controlled trial study protocol. BMJ open. 2025 Sep 1;15(9):e101703.​
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Publications:

• Thestrup J, Sørensen JL, Esbjørn BH, Hybschmann J, Frandsen TL, DeCosta P, Gjærde LK. Paediatric patient perceptions of healthcare professionals: contributions to a communication curriculum. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2025;184(1):1-10.​
• Thestrup J, Sørensen JL, Hybschmann J, Topperzer MK, Graber K, O’Farrelly C, Gibson J, Ramchandani P, Frandsen TL, Gjærde LK (2024). Establishing consensus on principles and competencies for the use of play in clinical practice in hospitals: An international Delphi study. European Journal of Pediatrics, 1-11.​

Funded by:

• The Lego Foundation
• The Foundation for Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital
• Helsefonden
• The Education Council of the Capital Region of Denmark​