Working With Parents Not only do children bring a range of communication needs to a medical appointment, but so do their parents. While some parents may lack the literacy or language skills they need to understand complex medical terminology, others come to appointments with journal articles and research findings. Regardless of the parents' education or vocation, make sure they understand what you are saying. When talking about dehydration, for example, confirm that they know that dry skin or dry diapers can be warning signs that a child needs further medical attention. When you need to deal with a controversial issue, such as whether children should receive the chickenpox vaccine, write a handout that clearly outlines the perspective of your healthcare practice.
Parents sometimes bring in information they find on the Internet.
As a health professional, you may feel uncomfortable talking about an article you aren't familiar with. When you are uncertain about the credibility of new information, ask to read the material. Then follow up with a phone call to the parents a few days later. You can deal with Internet information proactively by distributing lists of Web sites you can recommend because you find them credible. Reprinted with permission from On Call.