Red Flags for Disruptive Behavior in Healthcare Professionals

Sadly, disruptive behavior among healthcare professionals and staff is common, and it poses a threat to patient safety and staff well-being. A bulletin from the American College of Surgeons states that the majority of healthcare professionals have encountered colleagues engaging in disruptive behaviors with coworkers, patients, relatives, and others.¹ These behaviors can take a serious toll on members of the patient care team and can increase the risk of adverse events.

Communicating Effectively With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients

Distrust of vaccines has an enduring and pronounced place in U.S. history. Long before the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, skepticism and doubt about vaccines for other diseases have thwarted inoculation efforts and led to public health concerns. The United States is not alone in this struggle; in 2019, the World Health Organization listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the 10 leading threats to global health.¹

Read more

Strategies for Communicating With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients: Listen and Acknowledge

Vaccine hesitancy among parents stems from many different causes. Understanding parents' beliefs and concerns about vaccines is essential for determining how to foster open and honest dialogue while addressing their concerns.

Strategies for Communicating With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients: Provide Information in Plain Language

The proliferation of misinformation and confusion about vaccines often highlights the broader issue of health literacy and patient, or in the case of pediatrics, parent comprehension of health information.

Strategies for Communicating With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients: Use Communication Techniques

Conducting appointments for patients who have vaccine-hesitant parents can cause stress and frustration for pediatricians and other pediatric providers. However, having a structured and practiced approach for communicating with these parents can help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with these encounters.

Strategies for Communicating With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients: Discuss Benefits and Risks

Discussing benefits and risks of proposed treatments, therapies, or medications — including vaccinations — is an essential part of educating parents and involving them in their children's care. Pediatric providers should make parents aware of potential adverse outcomes related to vaccinations (e.g., allergic reactions, fever, rash, soreness, headaches, tiredness, etc.) as well as the beneficial aspects of immunizations.

Strategies for Communicating With Vaccine-Hesitant Parents of Pediatric Patients: Encourage and Be Prepared for Questions

Vaccine hesitancy arises for various reasons, many of which are rooted in a lack of understanding about vaccines. Much like poor health literacy impedes patient comprehension of medical concepts, inadequate science literacy also is an obstacle when communicating with vaccine-hesitant parents of pediatric patients.

Risk Strategies for Managing Parents of Pediatric Patients Who Refuse or Delay Vaccines

When these situations occur, the following guidance can help pediatric providers promote ongoing communication and collaboration with parents and reduce potential liability risks.