School-aged children experience about hospitalization: A qualitative study

Background: Hospitalization can affect children psychological health. The aim of this study was to explore how children experience hospitalization.

Methods: Using conventional content analysis, the data were collected through indirect techniques including drawing and storytelling on 25 children aged 7-12 years old in 2009 from two paediatric Hospitals of Hajar and Tehran (located in Shahre-Kurd and Tehran respectively).

Results: The results showed that children had both negative and positive experiences from hospitalization. Fear of painful procedures, threatening environment of hospital,  concerns about schooling failure and boring environment of the hospital were negative experiences of children. The children have used self-protection and seeking reassurance to cope with their fears and concerns. Hospitalization also was a good opportunity for children to enhance their social and adaptive skills and abilities by making new friends and learning more about medical procedures and professionals.

Conclusion: Hospitalization can be both a positive and negative experience for children. All negative experiences of hospitalized children are due to poor attention to developmental needs of children in health care planning in hospitals. Using holistic care view with hospitalized children, will make hospitalization a positive experience for children.