Understanding hospitality house guests' needs: a brief case report

Area of Science:

• Family Studies
• Pediatric Nursing
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Pediatric illness impacts entire families, necessitating supportive programs.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs offers a framework for understanding human needs.
• Hospitality houses provide crucial support for families of pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the complex and changing needs of a mother with premature twins in a hospitality house.
• To apply Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to understand these evolving needs.
• To inform the development of theory-driven, empirically supported family support programs.

Main Methods:

• Case study approach.
• Qualitative description of one mother's experiences and needs.
• Application of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a theoretical lens.

Main Results:

• The mother's needs were dynamic and multifaceted, shifting throughout her stay.
• Physiological and safety needs were primary initially, followed by needs for love/belonging and esteem.
• Self-actualization needs emerged as the situation stabilized.

Conclusions:

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs effectively illustrates the fluid nature of family needs in pediatric contexts.
• Theory-driven programs are essential for adaptable and effective family support.
• Understanding individual, evolving needs is critical for hospitality houses and healthcare settings.