Research Findings on Child and Parent Communication Preferences for Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis Disclosure

Child life specialists foster trust by communicating with children in a developmentally appropriate way throughout the treatment trajectory. Developmental theory underscores the necessity of trust for communication, yet limited research supports the facilitation of intentional conversations related to diagnosis and prognosis. This presentation will report research findings on child and parent communication preferences, which will empower child life specialists to advocate for honest developmentally appropriate information throughout a patient’s treatment.