Nursing Assessment, Management and Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases
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EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE Results from a study of 80,000 stu- dents showed that 25% of participants reported having been bullied. Results also showed a significant disconnect between teachers’ perceptions and what their students say is happening in their schools (Stringer, 2016). To combat bullying, the National Alope- cia Areata Foundation offers the following suggestions for parents and other care- givers as they work to help their children who are being bullied (National Alopecia Areata Foundation, n.d.): ● Help children to understand and identify bullying behaviors. ● Encourage open communication, check in with the children frequently, and listen/observe closely to what children are saying and doing. ● Encourage children to participate in enjoyable activities to foster confidence. ● Model treating other with kindness and respect. ● Speak to school officials and leaders of extra-curricular activities about bullying and how to stop it. ● Provide information about how to deal with bullying such as leaving the bullying situation if possible, telling the bully (calmly) to stop the bullying, controlling emotions (avoiding showing fear or anger, which may increase the bullying), and do not try to bully the person(s) who is doing the bullying (this only perpetuates the cycle of bullying).
able to describe their feelings, so it is im- portant to teach parents and other fami- ly members/caregivers how to recognize depression and anxiety. Symptoms of de- pression in children include the following (National Alopecia Areata Foundation, n.d.): ● Sadness and/or irritability. ● Not wanting to participate in “fun” activities that were enjoyed in the past. ● Changes in eating patterns. ● Changes in sleep patterns. ● Changes in energy patterns. ● Having a hard time paying attention. ● Feelings of worthlessness, uselessness, and/or guilt. ● Exhibiting self-destructive behavior. Symptoms of anxiety in children include the following (National Alopecia Areata Foundation, n.d.): ● Excessive fearfulness or worry. ● Irrational anger. ● Trouble sleeping. ● Physical symptoms including fatigue, headaches, and stomach aches. Children are also at risk for bullying. Ex- amples of bullying behaviors that affect children with alopecia areata include the following (National Alopecia Areata Foundation, n.d.): ● Pulling head coverings from the child’s head. ● Verbalizing insults about the child’s appearance. ● Telling others about the child’s alopecia and making deliberate attempts to humiliate and embarrass the child.
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