Role of the child life specialist in a complex treatment of children and adolescents with oncological diagnosis. Experiences of the psychologist of the supportive team from abroad
Abstract
The article introduces the role of Child Life Specialist during a process of a complex therapy of children and adolescents with oncological diagnosis. The text is based on personal experience gained by the first author during her fellowship in the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, in October 2021.
The Child Life Specialist is educated and trained to help children, young patients and their families to cope with the stress from chronic and painful treatment, feelings of fear, loss of control, isolation, disability and others potentially traumatic events. Child Life Specialist uses a play as an important tool to communicate with small children and to explain different procedures.
Child Life Specialist takes care of every patient in co-operation with physicians, nurses and other professionals of the interdisciplinary team. The text also includes a summary of the development of the position of the Child Life Specialist in Czech hospitals.