Teddy bear hospital
If children have a sick toy they can take it for treatment at the Teddy Bear Hospital, as Suneeta Kochhar, Stephen French, and Ioana Vlad explain
At the Teddy Bear Hospital at Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, schoolchildren from the London borough of Southwark are able to bring sick teddies for a check-up. Aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 7, the hospital first started in 2001 and has two main goals--to reduce children's anxiety about visiting the doctor and to help medical students improve their communication skills with children. By visiting the hospital the children become familiar with hospital environments and learn about medical procedures and equipment in a friendly setting. Sick teddies--or any other favourite toy--are eligible for a 10 minute consultation by a fourth year medical student with first and second year students acting as helpers.
The bear facts
The idea for the Teddy Bear Hospital project originated in Norway and is organised by the European Medical Students' Association (EMSA) and the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA). According to Amanda Victorine Wong, EMSA president, the project has now spread to many countries. "I'm constantly getting emails of interested students from all around the world," Eva Ciric, IFMSA teddy bear hospital project coordinator adds.
COLIN GRAY/PHOTONICA
Sadly, this teddy has a severe case of beari beari
In Germany, medical students from the University of Heidelberg aim the hospital at even younger children and promote it in the city centre. "A decorated colourful tent is set up as a hospital on a big square in the city centre. In our Teddy Bear Hospital in Heidelberg, all kindergartens in the city are invited to visit the hospital and the hospital is open for all children and their parents," says Steven Sabini the German national public health officer. The German children also get "medicine" sweets in the Teddy Bear Hospital pharmacy and even have the opportunity to explore an ambulance.
In the Netherlands, students organise emergency sessions simulating the hospital environment "with children and teddy doctors running around saving lives and performing CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and surgery sessions--with teddy needing an urgent operation has proved to retain children's attention and interest," says Amanda Victorine Wong. She adds, "A little talk about child health and teaching them basic principles of hygiene also receive great applause from parents."
Taiwan medical schools have been running a Teddy Bear Hospital for four years. "We have two kinds of activities here to help different kids not be afraid to see doctors: one goes to the children hospital; the other is in the kindergarten," says Eddie Shen, the Taiwanese national officer of public health. However, the project organised in the real hospital was not successful: "Though it seems more meaningful in the children's hospital, the outcome was not as good as we expected. That is because we had little experience with very ill children", he says.
At Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, transport to and from the venues is provided and sponsored by EMSA and local companies. Georgina Clarke, one of the coordinators says, "For most of the local schools a visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital is usually the first school outing, and parental involvement is encouraged." In her experience, parents have been keen to get involved and have been supportive of the scheme. Some schools organise health related teaching in the classroom in the same week as the visit to the hospital.
Bearing up
The child brings in a "sick" toy and through role play discusses how to "treat" their toy with a "teddy doctor." Before the event, children prepare a sheet with the name and drawing of their teddy with the chief medical complaint. Georgina Clarke explains that local pharmacists provide bandages to manage fractures and bleeds, which represent the most common injuries. However, children have also reported more violent injuries. If child abuse is suspected, for example, if a child has a toy that has been beaten by a parent or there is evidence of neglect or abuse, senior help is sought. This would involve voicing concerns about welfare to the child's teacher. The students can gain insight into the level of understanding and into the concerns that most children have. Children are involved in decision making. After the consultation a "prescription" with the decided course of action is given to the teddy and accompanying child.
Apart from the educational experience about hospitals through play, children can also take part in interactive games to learn about health and safety at home. Workshops are set up to discuss issues such as healthy eating and cigarette smoking. Children who have participated in the scheme have responded positively to the workshops and have enjoyed the experience.
The Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham Healthier Schools Partnership supports the Teddy Bear Hospital. They provide plastic medical equipment such as stethoscopes, auroscopes, reflex hammers, and blood pressure cuffs for the children to play with. This "medical equipment" is also used to educate the children on their use.
JENNIFER FIDIS/REX
Bear Life Support (BLS)
The bear necessities
The level of commitment from volunteering students comprises attending a three hour training session and participating in the event for the morning, afternoon, or both. Training involves learning about the activities that are organised for the schoolchildren and appropriate language to use in a consultation.
Lisa Jeavons, a final year medical student who participated in the scheme, says that it helps with developing communication skills with children in a non-stressful environment. "The scheme provides an invaluable opportunity to develop a rapport and gain confidence in dealing with young children," she says.
Susan Standring, admissions tutor at Guy's Hospital, is fully supportive of the Teddy Bear Hospital and believes that the scheme is important in engaging the local population of Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham in health education. As well as being fun and educational for schoolchildren and students, Standring says that "familiarisation with the hospital setting promotes interest in the work of healthcare professionals" and helps to promote medicine as a career option to inner city children. "This project encourages talented local students to consider careers in medicine or in one of the professions allied to medicine, by promoting interest and providing support," says Standring.
Suneeta Kochhar final year medical student, Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, London
Email: suneeta.kochhar@kcl.ac.uk
Stephen French final year medical student, Guy's, King's, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, London
Email: stephen.french@kcl.ac.uk
Ioana Vlad junior doctor, Iasi, Romania
Email: ioanavlad@hotmail.com
No bears were harmed in the writing of this article
studentBMJ 2004;12:221-264 June ISSN 0966-6494
