In the United States, doctors and nurses work under 200+ medical specialties to treat patients and raise awareness. Of these, pediatrics is an interesting field catering to children’s health, right from birth to young adulthood.
A pediatrician chooses a unique career for themselves since they must know the distinct physiological and developmental needs of children and adolescents. Those in the said age group face conditions that surround evolving anatomy, changing hormones, and rapid growth.
As of 2023, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shares that over 34,500 pediatricians practiced across the country. Most operated directly from their independent clinics, whereas thousands of them worked in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and even schools/colleges.
Given the sensitive age bracket that these healthcare professionals cater to, a must-have skill is communication. Though it appears to be easy on the surface, strong communication is a complex skill encompassing verbal and non-verbal cues, active listening, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence.
Often, communication can make all the difference in teens’ health. In this article, we will explore the importance of strong communication skills in healthcare careers, specifically pediatricians treating teenagers.
Good Communication Can Translate Into Good Health
Let’s begin by clarifying that pediatricians do not simply deal with their patients (that is, children or teens). They also directly involve parents/caregivers in the diagnosis and disease management process.
This holds even in the case of preventive medication. Gone are the days when parents took their children to a pediatrician’s clinic and were happy to leave with a prescription. No explanations or even visible empathy were expected from the doctor.
The modern dynamics of patient-doctor-caregiver relationships have changed. Today’s patients and their parents are healthcare consumers, and healthcare providers must cover other needs, such as imparting information and extending empathy.
There is another reason to take a patient-centric approach, and it has to do with the therapeutic effects of treatment. It may seem like a contradictory term, but in practice, it is not. If a patient has a good understanding of their condition, they’re more likely to adhere to therapy or treatment for a positive outcome.
Similarly, parents and caregivers who understand their children’s condition properly are more likely to continue treatment. They will look to the outcome with much more hope and anticipation than those who are oblivious. Pediatricians need to work alongside patients, parents, and caregivers to ensure they have all the info they need to stick with the treatment process.
A Skill Most Vital in Dealing With Sensitive Issues
All healthcare professionals, in general, must deal with some highly sensitive patient issues. These include mental health disorders, sexual concerns, addictions, terminal illnesses, and more. Pediatricians practice at a unique position in an individual’s life, especially when it comes to adolescents.
Teenage is usually a period filled with turmoil because of many reasons. Teens often deal with heightened stress due to rapid physical/sexual maturation, a drive for independence, and a search for one’s identity and social belonging.
Though the emotional storm and stress during adolescence are normal, they are also sensitive issues. Pediatricians need to tread carefully as they deal with such issues, starting with a trusting environment for the patient and parents. Let’s take a pretty common example – issues related to one’s sexual health.
Teenage life is a time rife with peer pressure, the potential for unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), body image concerns, and sexual orientation issues. Most importantly, teens may find it difficult to open up about these issues to their parents or caregivers.
Pediatricians can take a professional approach to addressing these concerns before they turn into a bigger problem. For instance, there are plenty of birth control options today, even for treating menstrual issues. However, each has different implications that teens must be aware of.
Pediatrician’s Role in Communicating Contraceptive Options
Two common birth control options are available for teenagers, hormonal and non-hormonal. No matter the reasons they are used for, practicing caution is crucial. Hormonal options like the pill can have mild to serious side effects.
The Mayo Clinic shares some of these as breakthrough bleeding, breast soreness, nausea, increased blood pressure, and headaches. Oral contraceptives, especially when taken from a young age, also slightly increase the risk of certain cancers.
On the other hand, non-hormonal birth control can have other complications. The Paragard intrauterine device (IUD) is the only FDA-approved non-hormonal contraceptive in the US. It is also highly effective in preventing pregnancy for as much as 10 years.
However, women have faced serious side effects due to the device’s defective design. TorHoerman Law shares that complaints are associated with the device breaking apart and migrating to other parts of the body.
This has caused injuries like internal bleeding, organ damage, infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Under a consolidated Paragard lawsuit, over 2,500 such cases have been filed. This means young women need to look for other options like barrier methods, diaphragms, and cervical caps.
The issue lies in the fact that the more harmful birth control options are also the most widely used. It is unlikely that teens will get the required information from their peer groups. Pediatricians can intervene during regular health checkups to discuss sensitive matters like these.
That won’t happen without 360-degree communication skills. Still not convinced that this is complex? Let’s look at all the aspects of such communication in the next section.
Key Aspects of Effective Communication for Pediatricians
Here, we will look closely at the different aspects of effective communication for pediatricians. They apply for general health concerns, along with sensitive matters like the one we discussed above.
- The healthcare practitioner needs to create a safe and comfortable environment for the teen. The latter must feel at ease to acknowledge the sensitive topic at hand, especially its confidentiality.
- The next step involves asking open-ended questions about the issue. For instance, the pediatrician needs to know whether the teen is aware of the implications of sexual contact and contraceptives.
- Once the teen’s understanding is gauged, the pediatrician must explain their possible care options. In our example, it would include the different birth control options. They must do so by using age-appropriate language that does not include too much medical jargon.
- All the while, genuine understanding and empathy are required to make the teen feel heard and validated for their concerns.
- There is also the need to frame the conversation around empowering the teen. They must feel like they can make informed decisions about their sexual health.
- Important considerations also enter the picture. For instance, should the teen be informed about the lawsuit and contraceptive injuries, and if yes, how? It is important to strike a delicate balance between empowering and instilling a healthy fear.
- Finally, the pediatrician needs to communicate the issue to parents or caregivers in a way they can relate to their teen’s fluctuating emotions and hormonal changes.
In a 2024 Statista report, as much as 56% of respondents said they valued communication and active listening as the top soft skills for their company. From what we have just discussed, it is clear that healthcare professionals must master this skill, especially pediatricians.
Some ways to do so include choosing empathy over judgment, attentive listening, establishing rapport through age-relevant language, and clear explanations. Aspirants in this field will see significant personal growth when they focus on developing this one vital quality.