Parents' experience of hospitalization: different strategies for feeling secure

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I Kristensson-Hallström1, G Elander

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

Pediatric Nursing
|July 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Parents of boys hospitalized for hypospadias repair found security through three main strategies: relinquishing care, gaining control, or relying on their own knowledge. These strategies influenced their hospitalization experience and their child

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Psychology
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Hypospadias repair is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
  • Parental experiences during a child's hospitalization significantly impact family well-being.
  • Understanding parental coping strategies is crucial for improving pediatric healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the experiences of parents whose sons underwent hypospadias repair.
  • To identify parental strategies for achieving security during hospitalization.
  • To examine the relationship between parental strategies and their child's hospitalization experience.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative analysis of interviews with 20 parents of boys (ages 2-14) hospitalized for hypospadias repair in Sweden.
  • Thematic analysis to identify common parental concerns and coping mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • The primary parental concern was establishing security within the hospital environment.
  • Three distinct parental security strategies emerged: relinquishing care, seeking control, and asserting knowledge of their child.
  • Parental strategies correlated with their overall hospitalization experience and influenced children's pain perception and management.

Conclusions:

  • Parental security is paramount during pediatric hospitalization for hypospadias repair.
  • Tailoring hospital support to align with parental coping strategies can enhance the experience for both parents and children.
  • Further research should explore interventions to support diverse parental needs in pediatric surgical settings.

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