The Effects of Hospitalisation and Medical Procedures on Children and Their Families

Illness and hospitalisation are stressful experiences for child patients and their families. Recent research has identified a range of variables that can influence the extent of negative reactions of children to hospitalisation and medical interventions. These include the family’s previous medical experience, the child’s developmental status, the parent-child interaction, the seriousness of the illness, the severity of the medical procedure, and the coping style adopted by a child. Further investigation of such mediating variables is of benefit to children and families, as it can alert health practitioners to those children (and parents) who are most at risk and, as well, enhance the effectiveness of preparatory interventions. It is recommended that the adoption of a family systems perspective in future research will further the understanding of how child patients and their families cope with medical procedures.