New Paediatric Anxiety Management Programme
A new elearning programme co-created by the Royal College of Anaesthetists will help manage and reduce procedure induced anxiety in children.
The majority of children experience some anxiety about any kind of medical intervention, however straightforward, which can have long-term consequences on their mental health and wellbeing. The new elearning programme will help address this by equipping medical professionals with an in-depth understanding of anxiety management strategies, allowing them to integrate these into their practice. These strategies are designed not only to reduce anxiety, but also any consequent psychological morbidity children may experience.
The College worked in partnership with the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, NHS England elearning for healthcare, and Cambridge University to develop the programme, Management of Procedure Induced Anxiety in Children.
Introducing the training, Dr Richard Martin, Consultant Anaesthetist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Clinical Lead for Procedure Induced Anxiety (GOSH), said: “This outstanding and comprehensive course offers an understanding of the significance of anxiety, how it impacts on a child’s mental health and wellbeing, how to minimise and potentially avoid causing trauma, and how to help children manage anxiety whilst in our care. The course represents what I have always believed should be a core competency in training for anyone caring for children.
“It has been written by an incredible team of experienced professionals working within this super specialty, and practicing across many of the major paediatric centres in the UK. Its publication represents a watershed in the management of children receiving medical care and interventions.”
Sessions within the eleaning programme include:
- Non-verbal communication
- Vocal and verbal communication
- Enhanced communication strategies
- Procedure-induced anxiety management for neurodivergent children
- Parental anxiety
- Premedication
- Equipment and environment: anxiogenic stimuli
- An Introduction to elective management and preparation
- Psychology
- Play
- Technology
Until now, there has been little training available around this important area of care, and the new elearning programme brings lessons from extensive research in this field to a wider audience. To find out more and to access the training, please visit the Management of Procedure Induced Anxiety in Children programme page on the elearning for healthcare website.
Users will receive a certificate upon completion of the training, which can be added to their portfolio and counts towards their core competency.
The College has produced other resources to help manage anxiety in paediatric patients, including a podcast featuring Dr Richard Martin in conversation with Council member Dr Claire Shannon, and Dennis has an anaesthetic, a comic strip developed in partnership with Beano.