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Coping with hospital-related fears: experiences of pre-school-aged children

Marja Salmela1, Sanna Salanterä, Eeva T Aronen

  • 1Marja Salmela MNSc RN Lecturer Health Care and Social Services, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland. marja.salmela@metropolia.fi

Journal of Advanced Nursing
|June 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Four to six-year-old children utilize familiar coping strategies like seeking pleasure and security when facing hospitalization fears. Supporting their individual approaches and providing opportunities for play is crucial for their well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Child Development
  • Healthcare Experiences

Background:

  • Pre-school children (4-6 years) are susceptible to hospitalization stress and fear.
  • Coping strategies include problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and function-oriented approaches.
  • Understanding children's perspectives on hospital fears and coping is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how 4- to 6-year-old children cope with hospitalization fears.
  • To understand children's explanations of their experiences during hospitalization.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study utilizing a purposive sample of 89 children.
  • Data collected through semi-structured interviews (2004-2006).
  • Phenomenological analysis using Colaizzi's method.

Main Results:

  • Ten clusters of coping experiences identified: pleasure, positive images, security, confidence, care, understanding, participation, seeking help, readjustment, and self-protection.
  • Children's coping strategies are integrated from their daily lives.

Conclusions:

  • Individual coping strategies of children should be observed and supported.
  • Pre-schoolers require information, guidance, and participation in decisions.
  • Opportunities for play and pleasure are essential for hospitalized children.
  • Children can be taught active, positive coping strategies.
Abstract

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