Children in the hospital: elements of quality in drawings

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare quality
• Child psychology
• Qualitative research methods

Background:

• Limited understanding of children's perspectives on hospital care quality.
• Need for patient-centered approaches in pediatric healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore children's perceptions of ideal hospital care quality.
• To identify key elements of quality from a child's viewpoint.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of 35 drawings by children aged 4-11 years.
• Drawings depicted their ideal hospital environment and experiences.
• Data collected during hospitalization at a Finnish university hospital.

Main Results:

• Children's drawings emphasized the hospital environment over people.
• Key themes included the physical surroundings and amenities.
• Patients, parents, and nurses were depicted less frequently.

Conclusions:

• Children can provide valuable insights into healthcare quality through creative expression.
• Hospital environment is a significant factor in children's perception of care quality.
• Drawing is a useful tool for understanding pediatric patient experiences.