Psychology and the enhancement of pediatric care

Excerpt

All radiologists who participate in the care of pediatric patients are familiar with the uncooperative patient — an infant who refuses to drink contrast agent, a toddler who will not lie still for a US examination, or a preschooler who resists urethral catheterization for a voiding cystourethrogram. It is easy to become resigned to such situations, according them little attention or reflection. But doing so would represent a lost opportunity. The ways pediatric patients react to their experiences in the radiology department offer deep insights into the perspectives of children and adolescents, and gaining a better understanding of their psychology opens opportunities to enhance care. …