Exploring preschool children's understanding of hospitals: Perceptions, experiences, and suggestions

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare research
• Child psychology and development
• Healthcare environment design

Background:

• Children's hospital experiences significantly impact their emotional and social development.
• Understanding children's perspectives is crucial for improving healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore preschool children's perceptions of hospitals using the "draw-and-tell" method.
• To identify children's conceptual associations and lived experiences within hospital environments.

Main Methods:

• Conducted with 44 children aged 4-6 with prior hospital visit experience.
• Utilized children's drawings and semi-structured interviews for data collection.
• Employed reflexive thematic analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Children perceive hospitals as complex environments integrating medical, emotional, social, and developmental elements.
• Experiences ranged from fear and discomfort to playfulness and family support.
• Children's suggestions emphasized the importance of play, comfort, and social support.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the necessity of child-centered healthcare approaches.
• Children are active participants in shaping and improving their hospital experiences.
• Healthcare services should be redesigned to foster trust, interaction, and address children's developmental needs.