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Technological Innovations in Pediatric Psychological Consultation

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Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings

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Abstract

Like nearly all professional fields, pediatric psychology is being increasingly molded and shaped by the rapid advances in technology. Clinicians have access to a variety of technologically innovative methods to collect and evaluate psychological data about patient’s mental, physical, and emotional states while also providing engaging and novel ways to disseminate psychological interventions. This chapter highlights the current use of technology for psychological consultation-liaison services as well as outpatient psychological treatment for the medically ill child. Current technology-based interventions are reviewed as methods to enhance self-assessment and self-monitoring, psychoeducation, goal setting, skill building, and feedback. Technology-based applications reviewed include online information and videos, smartphone applications, wearable physiological monitoring, and biofeedback devices that may enhance existing evidence-based models of care. Findings from existing studies and reviews are summarized and descriptions are provided that demonstrate practical ways to apply technology in inpatient medical units and outpatient treatment programs. Recommendations are provided for developing evidence-based practice using technology devices, acknowledging the barriers to address when building this field of practice and research, and reviewing initial resources. The chapter concludes with a case example of optimizing patient care utilizing technological innovations.

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Benore, E., Scott, E.L., Webster, E. (2020). Technological Innovations in Pediatric Psychological Consultation. In: Carter, B.D., Kullgren, K.A. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35598-2_37

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