While many more contributions may be made by the physician in caring for the child with poliomyelitis there are at least five principal areas in which he plays a major psychologic role in addition to his ordinary responsibilities in regard to medical care of the patient. These are:(a) in dealing with the relief of the patient's psychologic reactions to the acute phase of the disease; (b) in reducing psychologic trauma attendant upon the removal of the patient from his normal environment and placing him in the treatment environment of the hospital or nursing institution; (c) by explaining and correcting misconceptions that the patient may have about his illness and its ultimate effects; (d) by aiding the parents to avoid erroneous concepts, feelings of personal guilt and improper attitudes toward their child and the family as a whole during the child's illness; and (e) by correcting community misconceptions regarding the needs of the child with polio and by fostering adequate community cooperation in helping disabled children make the best possible socio-economic and psychologic adjustment to life.
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