Children’s and young people’s views of hospitalization: ‘It’s a scary place’

Hospitalization remains a stressful experience for many children despite unrestricted parent participation and considerable improvements in hospital environments. This article reports on children and young people’s experiences of hospitalization. In-depth interviews were conducted with children and young people (n=17) aged seven to sixteen years from three hospitals in Ireland. Data were analysed with the assistance of qualitative analysis software. The children expressed a range of fears and anxieties that were collated into two main themes: fears of ward environment and hospital staff and fears about investigations and treatments. Health professionals should be aware of how children can feel threatened and fearful about many aspects of the hospitalization. It is important that preparatory procedures and preadmission programmes are made available for children. Nurses should promote a safe and supportive environment to help reduce children’s anxieties, increase their understanding and facilitate overall coping. Helping children to express their fears and concerns and responding to those concerns is essential for successful outcomes. Parents play a significant role in reassuring their children and providing security and normality. Therefore nurses should involve parents in the delivery of information so that they can help relieve children’s anxieties. Efforts should be directed towards reducing the need for hospitalization of children through increased use of day surgery and outpatient care and tertiary care only used as a last resort.