Children, anxiety and special considerations during examinations
Communication when the patient is not a 'typical' healthy adult
Not all patients you meet can cooperate in the same way as a healthy adult. Children, elderly people with dementia, people with developmental disabilities or severely anxious patients place different demands on your approach — without reducing the requirements for a technically correct examination.
§Children and examinations
A child does not necessarily understand why it should sit still with something sticky on its skin. You can usefully involve the parents actively explain in language the child understands and even demonstrate on a stuffed animal doll or the parent first. Shorter breaks and a calm reassuring tone are often necessary and the examination may take longer than it would in an adult — you need to plan time for this.
§Anxious and worried patients
Many patients are nervous because they are afraid of what the examination might show or because they are already ill. Calm clear explanation of what will happen and why it does not hurt helps most people greatly. Give the patient control where possible — for example by telling them they can say if anything feels uncomfortable.
§Cognitive challenges and consent
- 01Always speak directly to the patient, even if a relative is present to help with communication.
- 02Use short, concrete sentences and avoid technical language.
- 03Be aware of non-verbal signs of discomfort or restlessness if the patient cannot say no themselves.
- 04Involve a relative or contact person when relevant for security and understanding.
§Interpretation and language barriers
When the patient doesn't speak Danish, or you're unsure the patient understands the instruction, use a professional interpreter instead of relatives where possible and ward routine requires. A misunderstood instruction—like 'breathe deeply and hold it'—can ruin an entire examination.
§Why this is part of professional skills
Being able to adapt your communication to the individual patient is just as much part of a hospital technician's expertise as being able to operate the equipment. A technically perfect recording is worthless if the patient couldn't participate in it because communication failed.
“The best equipment cannot compensate for a patient who did not feel safe enough to cooperate.”