Health Care Professionals' Perceptions of Child Life Specialists

The hospital environment presents many stressors for ill children and their families. For this reason, the child life profession focuses on the psychosocial care of hospitalized children and their families. However, little is known about perceptions of the child life profession in the medical setting. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of child life specialists by members of the health care profession. Results indicated several discrepancies between child life professionals' perceptions of their responsibilities and other health care professionals' perceptions of child life responsibilities. Child life specialists were viewed as important for patient psychosocial well-being, although perceived as having little power in the health care team. Child life specialists can use this information to educate other professionals in the medical field about their responsibilities, including patient and family support, advocacy, and patient psychological preparation.