Children's voices: qualitative data from the 'Barretstown studies'

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Child Life Services
• Recreational Therapy

Background:

• Children with life-threatening illnesses often face significant psychosocial challenges.
• Therapeutic recreation programs aim to improve well-being and coping mechanisms in these children.
• Understanding children's perspectives is crucial for optimizing such interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and expectations of children (7-16 years) participating in a therapeutic recreation program.
• To identify children's perceived benefits and concerns related to program participation.
• To evaluate the value of qualitative methods in understanding pediatric patient experiences.

Main Methods:

• Self-report questionnaires administered to 240 children aged 7-16 years before and after a therapeutic recreation program.
• Focus on qualitative data analysis of children's responses to open-ended questions.
• Exploration of pre-program expectations and post-program skill acquisition.

Main Results:

• Children's primary expectations centered on engaging activities and social interactions.
• A notable proportion expressed concerns about separation from home.
• Approximately two-thirds of participants reported acquiring new personal and social functioning skills.
• Qualitative feedback provided rich insights into children's subjective experiences.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic recreation programs offer significant psychosocial benefits for children with severe illnesses.
• Addressing children's concerns, such as separation anxiety, is important for program success.
• Qualitative data collection is invaluable for understanding the nuanced experiences of pediatric patients.
• These programs contribute to the development of essential life skills in young patients.