Unaccompanied hospitalized children: a review of the literature and incidence study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Child psychology
• Hospital administration

Background:

• Family-centered care (FCC) is a key philosophy in pediatric hospitals, aiming to minimize separation distress.
• Parents/guardians are integral to FCC, but their presence is not always possible due to various obstacles.
• Nurses play a crucial role in addressing the needs of children who are unaccompanied by their caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature concerning unaccompanied hospitalized children.
• To determine the incidence of unaccompanied children in a pediatric hospital setting over a two-week period.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on unaccompanied hospitalized children.
• Prospective incidence study conducted over two weeks at a pediatric hospital.

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third of the children studied were sometimes unaccompanied during their hospital stay.
• Both children and parents expressed a desire for continuous presence, highlighting the emotional impact of separation.

Conclusions:

• The findings indicate a significant incidence of unaccompanied children, challenging the ideal implementation of family-centered care.
• Barriers to parental participation need further investigation to improve care for hospitalized children.
• Healthcare providers must continue to focus on mitigating the negative effects of separation for these vulnerable patients.