| ■ Chronically Ill Children Want More Say in Treatment | 2008.09.16 |
| Children with chronic illnesses often feel left out of medical decisions and want more say in their treatment, including learning how to talk to doctors, says a researcher who interviewed children ages 7 to 11 at Alberta Children's Hospital in Canada. "What these children are saying is that it's not that they would be making the decision alone. But it's showing them and role-modeling for them and inviting them to have a voice at the table because it is their body," Andrea Pritchard told CBC News. The children she interviewed suggested three ways to help them be involved in their care: an online game to guide them through making choices; a treasure map to lead them through what's going on; and workshops to teach children and doctors how to talk with each other. Children with chronic illnesses need to learn how to manage their condition before they're adults, said Pritchard, CBC News reported. |