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Impact of Hospital Admission Care At a Pediatric Unit: A Qualitative Study
Insights
Hospital admission is stressful for families. Improving the pediatric admission process requires building trust between parents and healthcare professionals through clear communication and support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Qualitative Research
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Hospital admission, particularly unplanned, is a significant source of stress for parents and children.
- Understanding parent and healthcare professional perspectives on the admission process is crucial for improving care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parents' and healthcare professionals' perceptions and experiences of the pediatric hospital admission process.
- To identify key factors influencing the parent-professional relationship during admission.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing focus groups with parents (n=12) and healthcare professionals (n=6).
- Content analysis inspired by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) was performed on collected data.
Main Results:
- Parents' perceptions included managing uncertainty, feelings about the child's illness, views on professional performance, and their own role.
- Healthcare professionals viewed admission as a continuous care process and identified areas for improvement.
- A central theme was the critical role of parental trust in professionals for establishing a therapeutic relationship.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing the pediatric admission process necessitates strategies fostering trust and confidence between parents and professionals.
- Continuous quality communication and support are vital for a positive admission experience.
- Assigning a dedicated admission nurse can ensure continuity of care throughout hospitalization.
Abstract:
The time of admission to a hospital, especially when unplanned, has been reported as the most stressful moment of hospitalization for both parents and children (Odievre, 2001). This qualitative study explored parents and hospital staff's perceptions and experiences related to the process of admission to a pediatric unit. Focus groups, two with parents (total n = 12) and one with health care professionals (n = 6), were conducted, and content analysis inspired by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) was performed. Parents identified four categories of perceptions: 1) management of an uncertain situation at the time of admission, 2) feelings related to the child's illness, 3) parent perception of professional's performance, and 4) parent experience of their role. Health care professionals identified two categories: 1) hospital admission as a continuous care process, and 2) undertaking improvements in the admission process. A common theme emerged about the importance of parents' trust in professionals in order to build a therapeutic relationship. Findings underscore the need for strategies to improve the hospital pediatric admission process based on a parent-professional relationship of trust and confidence through continuous quality communication and support. These strategies would include providing a nurse in charge of the admission process to assure continuity of care throughout the child's hospitalization.
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