How to persuade a child to take a blood test

itsanne

victory wrote: »

So far in interrogation:rotfl:, no sorry chatting to him:rotfl: we can't actually find one, thought maybe he was scared? No, maybe he heard all the conditions named and he thought automatically blood test or no blood test he already had one of these? No, thought maybe he feared the pain or the needle, no, that maybe he went into OMG mode and thought he was going to die if they found anything or because of the blood test , no.

At present.....stumped

How important is it that he has the test? Or has it now? If it can keep, you could just leave it until he's ready, though that obviously won't work if it's urgent.

At 13 he will need to give consent, and something is obviously bothering him. If you are confident that his reluctance is not down to anything drastic (eg thinking he has some horrible illness and not wanting confirmation) you might need to think of a big enough bribe .

victory

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Yep. I said that too. Mum said "Fine then, it's your own fault if you end up poorly and don't expect me or your dad to look after you".

Harsh, but fair point I suppose. Sounds like it may not work on your chap though!

HBS x

We are obivously hoping it will, as bribery, talking, reasoning, understanding his point of view, so far is not working:D

We will try again in a few days time, if we keep slowly but surely chipping away at him he may come round, no use harpering on about it all the time but whichever way the blood test, whether now or in the future has to be done so we have to persuade him to do it, whichever way we can.

victory

Slinky wrote: »

Is he feeling unwell? Why has it been suggested he has one?

If he isn't feeling unwell, there's no family history to suggest he is at extreme risk of developing something for which they are testing, if he doesn't want it done, then that's his choice and it should be respected.

Not unwell no, just a blood test was suggested, there is family history as there is in any family, urgent no but needed yes, respected he is but even bearing that in mind he has to have a blood test the same as anyone else to have certain things ruled out

lostinrates

victory wrote: »

We are obivously hoping it will, as bribery, talking, reasoning, understanding his point of view, so far is not working:D

We will try again in a few days time, if we keep slowly but surely chipping away at him he may come round, no use harpering on about it all the time but whichever way the blood test, whether now or in the future has to be done so we have to persuade him to do it, whichever way we can.

Does it have to be done? Plenty of adults make the decision not to be screened.

I have a complex health condition and routines opt out of some tests. There are something's which frankly, aren't gonna make all that much difference. They can grab blood for them when they want it for something else if they really want but on some screenings, for my own reasons I have asked for some tests not to be done. Whether they do them and don't tell me, of course, I 'll never know,:rotfl:

victory

itsanne wrote: »

How important is it that he has the test? Or has it now? If it can keep, you could just leave it until he's ready, though that obviously won't work if it's urgent.

At 13 he will need to give consent, and something is obviously bothering him. If you are confident that his reluctance is not down to anything drastic (eg thinking he has some horrible illness and not wanting confirmation) you might need to think of a big enough bribe .

Not urgent no but needed to rule things out,they same as anyone else, goes docs, 'oh have a blood test see what's going on', yes going to have to leave it and re-address another time, no, he knows he has not got anything drastic, he knows what a blood test is, seen it before and he knows it is just routine to have it done, he is not lying awake at night conjuring up all sorts in his head, we have made sure he is fully aware of everything and the nurse was beyond fantastic with him.

Uhm bribery......

peachyprice

Well he must have asked to go to the doctors because something was troubling him, if he wants to know what it is he'll have to have the blood test.

If he knows best I'd tell to put up or shut up (obviously while keeping a close eye on him discreetly). Harsh, but there's either something wrong that needs investigating or there isn't, he can't have it both ways.

victory

lostinrates wrote: »

Does it have to be done? Plenty of adults make the decision not to be screened.

I have a complex health condition and routines opt out of some tests. There are something's which frankly, aren't gonna make all that much difference. They can grab blood for them when they want it for something else if they really want but on some screenings, for my own reasons I have asked for some tests not to be done. Whether they do them and don't tell me, of course, I 'll never know,:rotfl:

Does it have to be done? Yes to find out what is going on within the blood tests to rule things out, no in the sense of if he refuses we can do little about it and the docs and nurses can't proceed with their lines of enquiries so at the end of the day he is doing himself a health disservice and the docs et will just have to not see him anymore.

Ah, maybe that is it? Maybe he doesn't want to go to the docs anymore? Not thought of that one although he was just fine there no probs, glad to take a day off school:D no problems until the blood test came up so maybe that is me barking up the wrong tree..

victory

peachyprice wrote: »

Well he must have asked to go to the doctors because something was troubling him, if he wants to know what it is he'll have to have the blood test.

If he knows best I'd tell to put up or shut up (obviously while keeping a close eye on him discreetly). Harsh, but there's either something wrong that needs investigating or there isn't, he can't have it both ways.

Harsh but so true;)

It's been made clear to me that I cannot make him have a blood test so an incy winsy bit of me is like :mad: and the other is 'for christ sake, it's a blood test, have it done and crack on' but neither of those two have been put to DS as I just want it not to escalate, just have the blood test

victory

herand wrote: »

Tell him to grow the f up and don't go into the room with him.

Jeez it's hardly the nicest experience, just look away and wait.

God some people moan over everything, imagine having to get bloods taken daily and having small viens and other such issues which make it a far greater deal than a minutes uncomfortableness,

Yes and no, even though inside me that could come out as you have so eloquently described above it is not going to help, the softly softly approach is not a road to go down either as he has to have the blood test and at the end of the day that is what we are aiming for, going for his jugular will be negative, counter productive , destructive and won't achieve the end goal

He has been given all the necessary facts and information to take onboard and to act on

sukysue

They may be able to do fingerprick bloods on him using smaller blood bottles.