Visual supports to create child-friendly environments in a pediatric hospital: A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare communication
• Patient experience enhancement
• Medical procedure visualization

Background:

• Effective communication between patients and healthcare workers (HCW) is crucial for quality care, safety, and satisfaction.
• Visual aids (VAs) can mitigate patient anxiety and improve hospital experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptance of visual aids (VAs) for anticipating medical procedures in a pediatric hospital setting.
• To assess the perspectives of both families and healthcare providers on the utility of VAs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study employing a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative).
• Selection of frequent medical procedures and corresponding VAs, with training for HCWs.
• Assessment of VA acceptance via semi-structured surveys with caregivers and HCWs, supplemented by qualitative field notes.

Main Results:

• High utilization of VAs by all surveyed healthcare providers (24/24).
• Significant improvements reported by HCWs: enhanced patient understanding (23/24) and reduced stress/simplified procedures (18/24).
• Overwhelmingly positive caregiver feedback (69/72) on improved understanding, reduced stress, and greater tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Visual aids demonstrate strong acceptance among pediatric patients, families, and healthcare workers.
• VAs facilitate better patient comprehension, participation, and emotional regulation during medical procedures.
• Preliminary findings support the effectiveness of VAs, suggesting potential for broader implementation with consideration for time and organizational factors.