From Fear to Fun: Why I consider the traditional way "wrong"!

From Fear to Fun - Efficient consultation - Empower patients · 2026-04-24

This episode explores why the traditional “routine approach” in paediatric consultations so often leads to confrontation — with the child, with the parent, and even within ourselves as clinicians. By breaking down each phase of the routine workflow, we reveal how well‑intentioned habits can unintentionally create fear, resistance, and conflict.

We cover:

How ignoring the child during history taking triggers boredom, attention‑seeking, and parent–child tensionWhy long adult conversations set children up to fail before the examination even beginsHow treating the child as a passive object during examination increases fear and resistanceWhy restraint escalates distress and undermines trustHow ignoring parents’ own ideas and expectations leads to poor adherence at homeThe difference between telling a plan and sharing a planPractical alternatives that build cooperation:inviting the child’s perspectivegiving them a tasklowering anxiety from the moment they enterintroducing instruments through the child’s handsannouncing each steppraising every contributionHow trust and respect transform counselling into a shared decision‑making process

Key takeaway:

The traditional approach doesn’t fail because clinicians lack skill — it fails because it creates confrontation at every step. Cooperation requires intentional investment: inviting, explaining, empowering, and respecting. That’s how we move from fear to fun.

From Fear to Fun - Efficient consultation - Empower patients

How to improve the relation between doctors and patients?

A lot is going on during any consultation. Frequently we are not aware of the obstacles in the way of effective communication in the outpatient clinic. This is especially the case when the patient is a child.

Learn how to empower your (paediatric) patients so that you can become their partner in their journey.

Learn how to use the time you have as efficient and effective as possible, with a high degree of patient satisfaction and treatment adherence.

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