It is a good idea to speak to the parents first, then the adolescent or young adult – to provide some reassurance that the confidential information imparted to the doctor is not going to be immediately disclosed to the parents. This can be done by talking separately to each in turn, introducing the idea through normalisation – “It is my usual practice to…”. Generally, this is done to avoid embarrassing older children or adolescents and to allow for the imparting of sensitive information. Negotiating both talking to parents/carers without the child present and talking to the child alone requires tact and consideration. Be mindful to allow the child time to answer and do not interrupt. Depending on the child’s age, they will hold a wealth of knowledge about their current condition and their history – but may feel too shy or embarrassed to add to the conversation you may be having with their trusted adults. Make sure to address questions to the child when appropriate. Observe how the child is playing and interacting with any siblings and their parents/carers. Young children generally feel more comfortable and secure in their parent’s arms or lap and may require some time to feel at ease. Make sure to maintain a comfortable distance from the child at the beginning of the consultation, whilst trying to build rapport with the family as a whole. This question can be addressed to the child (if old enough) – “Who have you brought with you today?”. This can help build rapport with the child and their family. Greet the child, their parents/ carers and any other siblings who are present.Ĭonfirm the child’s name and date of birth.Įstablish the names and relationships of the carers with the child today.
Introduce yourself including your name and role. Wash your hands and don PPE if appropriate. You may also be interested in our other paediatric OSCE guides.įirst and foremost, you should check the child’s age as this information is key in determining what questions you’ll need to ask and what areas you’ll need to cover.Īs such, it is imperative to know this information before approaching the patient and family, so that you can prepare a mental model for how you’ll structure the consultation.
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Download the paediatric history taking PDF OSCE checklist, or use our interactive OSCE checklist.