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Children's needs during hospitalization: an observational study of hospitalized boys
Ingrid Runeson1, Inger Hallström, Gunnel Elander
1Department of Medical Ethics, Lund University, Sweden. ingrid.runeson@hik.se
Insights
Hospitalized children have distinct needs based on their situation. During calm periods, they require activity and information, while stressful times necessitate control and parental presence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Health Services Research
- Hospital Care for Children
Background:
- Children's experiences in hospitals can significantly impact their well-being.
- Understanding evolving psychosocial needs is crucial for effective pediatric care.
- Previous research has not fully delineated situational needs of hospitalized boys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and categorize the needs of hospitalized boys across different situational contexts.
- To inform healthcare providers about adapting care strategies based on children's changing needs.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 21 boys aged 5 months to 16 years.
- 120 hours of direct observation with immediate field note transcription.
- Content analysis of narrative texts to identify distinct need categories.
Main Results:
- Six categories of needs identified during non-threatening situations: activity, new experiences, information, participation, praise/recognition, and physical resources.
- Four categories of needs identified during threatening situations (discomfort, pain): control, parental proximity, familiarity, and integrity.
- Needs are dynamic and context-dependent, shifting with changes in the child's hospital experience.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals must recognize and respond to the situational variability of children's needs.
- Non-threatening periods require facilitating normalcy and providing information.
- Threatening periods necessitate support for maintaining control and ensuring security (e.g., parental presence).
Abstract:
Twenty-one boys (age range 5 months to 16 years) were followed during their stay at hospital. Total observation time was 120 h. Field notes were made immediately after each observation. These were then transcribed into a narrative text, which was analysed by content analysis. Six categories of needs were identified during non-threatening situations at the hospital: the need for activity, the need for new experiences, the need for information, the need for participation, the need for praise and recognition, and needs related to physical resources. Four categories of needs were found during episodes of threat, discomfort and pain: the need for control, the need for having their parents nearby, the need for what is familiar, and the need for integrity. These results indicate that those involved in the care of children should be alert to the fact that as circumstances change, different needs have to be met. During non-threatening situations efforts should be made to inform children and to allow them to continue with their everyday lives. During threatening situations the children should be assisted and supported in keeping the situation under control.