Tips for examining children
Since I’ve passed paediatrics now I thought I’d share my tips on examining kids! Feel free to add any of yours.
- Engage the child first, before doing anything. If they’re wearing a spiderman t-shirt, ask about spiderman! If they’re in school uniform, ask them what their favourite subject is! Etc.
- Don’t ask ‘can I examine you’, because if they say no and you still have to do it, you lose their trust. Instead say ‘I’m going to examine you’, in a nice friendly way!
- If you have time, try to show that whatever you’re doing isn’t that scary by doing it on their teddy or parent first.
- Again try to engage them in what you’re doing. E.g. some kids will love to listen to their own heart if you let them.
- Be opportunistic. Usually there’s a fairly strict order to do an examination in, that you’ll stick to. This goes out the window a bit with paeds, because kids prefer not to cooperate with you. So if they suddenly become very quiet, swoop in there and listen to their chest!
- Do the worst thing last. For example in a respiratory/ENT exam it’s usually the throat exam that kids HATE and will start crying at. Don’t do it first and make the whole exam hell!
- And finally, distract them with something if you can
