Child-Centered Care: A Qualitative Study Exploring Pediatric Hospitalization Through Children's Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Child Psychology
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Hospitalization presents significant stressors for children, including unfamiliar environments and separation from family.
• Healthcare settings can be particularly challenging for pediatric patients' emotional and psychological well-being.
• A child-centered care perspective is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore children's hospitalization experiences from a child-centered perspective.
• To identify children's emotional and psychological needs during hospitalization.
• To inform the development of interventions to improve pediatric patient care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using Husserl's descriptive phenomenology.
• In-depth interviews and drawings from 10 school-age children (9-13 years).
• Thematic analysis of data collected from October 2022 to June 2023 in Spain.

Main Results:

• Children reported experiencing fear, anxiety, and loneliness.
• Physical pain and discomfort were common during their hospital stay.
• Participants desired clearer communication and more detailed explanations from medical staff.

Conclusions:

• Family-centered care and enhanced communication are crucial for hospitalized children.
• Art therapy and flexible visiting hours can improve emotional support.
• Tailoring communication to children's developmental levels is vital for pediatric care.