Exploring the Experiences, Roles, and Impacts of Child Life Specialists Providing Psychosocial Care on Short Term Medical Missions

Abstract

Certified child life specialists (CCLSs) are serving on international short term medical missions (STMMs) to provide psychosocial care for children and families. This is the first known study to examine the experiences and roles of CCLSs on STMMs, as well as the impact of this service on the CCLSs' cultural competency and professional development. An online cross-sectional survey resulted in 124 respondents; 69 participants reported on their experiences with various types of international outreach activities and 55 CCLSs reported specifically on STMM experiences. Play and normalization, psychological preparation for medical procedures, and emotional support were most consistently provided during the STMMs. Guidance in using non-pharmacological pain management techniques, providing alternate focus techniques during medical procedures, and developing coping plans were less consistently provided. Overall, all 55 respondents reported observing patients exhibit less anxiety and stress after receiving child life services. Majority of CCLSs serving on STMMs report increases in cultural competency levels including awareness of healthcare disparities, confidence in working with individuals from other cultures, and ability to communicate more effectively with patients and healthcare professionals from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Nearly all participants agreed that during the STMMs they practiced child life competencies. The STMM volunteer experience invigorated them as a CCLS and contributed toward their professional development including communicating and working with interdisciplinary team more effectively. Implications for improving the STMM volunteer experience for CCLSs, for increasing the impact of psychosocial care on host country beneficiaries, and for strengthening the sustainability of child life services in host countries are discussed.