Adolescent preferences for rooming during hospitalization

To determine adolescents' rooming preferences during hospitalization.

A questionnaire designed by the authors was administered to 95 adolescents (59 inpatients and 36 outpatients) in 1996. Differences between groups were analyzed by Chi-square.

The adolescents were equally divided between a preference to room alone (40%) or with one other person (39%). Fewer adolescents (20%) preferred more than one other roommate. When analyzed by gender, females were significantly more likely than males to prefer to room alone [53% vs. 28% (chi(2) = 5.34; p < 0.05)]. The majority of both inpatient and outpatient groups (93%) indicated a preference for a companion-in particular their mother-to stay with them overnight in the hospital during medically difficult times.

These findings support our recommendation that there should be equal numbers of single and double rooms in adolescent inpatient units to accommodate these divided preferences among adolescents. Individual adolescent rooming preferences should be elicited and honored whenever feasible.