[Improving the well-being of hospitalized children, a health need]

Since the end of the last century, an increasing interest in studying different forms of intervention to reduce the stress caused by hospitalization in children has been documented, but the results are insufficient. Health services should focus on life and well-being, and consider the needs of the individual as a whole person. Health promotion should integrate all levels of care and become the predominant paradigm that inspires the creation and implementation of the health care model. The objective of this communication is to define the effects of hospitalization on emotional well-being, which should be regarded as a health need.