Advancing the Profession through Research: Non-Pharmacological Interventions Led by Child Life in Adult Cardiac Care

Participants will learn about pioneering research led by child life in a large academic medical institution. Our feasibilty study with a dedicated child life specialist providing non-pharmacological interventions throughout the adult cardiac surgery experience has led to a clinical trial. The interdisciplinary study team raised the question: pediatric lessons learned could be integrated into adult cardiac surgery to individualized care reducing anxiety and pain and improve patience experience?

Objectives:
Identify scientific literature supporting the background and need for dedicated non-pharmacological interventions with adults through the integration of a child life role and adult surgical settings.
Explore a clinical research design with interdisciplinary team members focused on scientific exploration of a non-pharmacological to adult cardiac surgery care.
Articulate how to adapt/apply child life role and strategies to support adult patients.
Consider ways to enhance adult health care disciplinary partnership and patient experience through research and clinical trial efforts.

DOMAIN: Assessment; 1 PDU