On 16th June at Tbilisi State Medical University campus was held a joint international social project „Teddy Bear Hospital“ organized by GMSA(Georgian Medical Students Association), YSU (Young Scientific Union), EMSA(European Medical Students Association), Students Scientific Research Club “Vitalis”, Ivane Tarkhnishvili students scientific society and Tbilisi State Medical University Students Self-Government. This project comprises entertainment and educational activities, to support 4-8 year old children overcome the fear of physician and medical environment.
As organizers declare, the necessity for development of the project, emerged after stating children’s negative attitude to pediatricians and in general white coats.
Based on the research, the organizers indicate three main reasons for existing of this invisible barrier:
1. Incorrect interpretation of medical personal by parents, as soon as parent start manipulating their children with aim to gain their obedience to medical doctors and uncomfortable medical procedures, which causes negative attitude of children as patients.
2. The ill-treatment of the medical staff towards the child as a patient, which causes or more intensifies fear of doctors and the unpleasant medical procedures.
3. Rare visits to doctor increases the child's distrust towards medical staff. The problem mentioned above is more relevant today, as the negative attitude towards the doctor significantly reduces the health care quality, increases the prevalence and incidence of infections and non-infectious diseases.
4. Students organizations and Tbilisi State Medical University Student Self-government will carry out activities in the future as well as to establish healthy relationships with the patient and medical personnel.