How hospitalized children and parents perceive nurses and hospital amenities: A qualitative descriptive study in...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Qualitative Health Research
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Understanding the patient-nurse relationship is vital in pediatric care.
• Hospital amenities significantly impact the experience of children and their families.
• Parental expectations shape perceptions of care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patient-nurse relationship from the perspective of hospitalized children and their parents.
• To explore parents' and children's views on paediatric ward amenities.
• To identify key factors influencing the experience of pediatric hospital care in Poland.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive design utilizing an interview guide approach.
• Inclusion of 26 parents/caregivers and 22 hospitalized children (ages 10-16).
• Qualitative content analysis of recorded verbal data from interviews.

Main Results:

• Five main topics emerged: nurse qualities, verbal behavior, non-verbal communication, hospital amenities, and parental expectations.
• Nurse characteristics and communication styles were central to the patient-nurse relationship.
• Hospital environment and amenities were significant factors in overall satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• The study enhances understanding of parents' and children's experiences in pediatric hospital settings.
• Findings underscore the importance of effective nurse-patient communication and supportive hospital environments.
• Results provide insights for improving paediatric healthcare quality and patient-centeredness.