Abstract

VELAZQUEZ GONZALEZ, Rosario; FLORES CARABALLO, Jesús María; PICALLOS CONDE, María Dolores  and  ALBAR MARIN, María Jesús. Experiences of the children hospitalized in the paediatric units of the Virgen Macarena Hospital. Index Enferm [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.4, pp.243-245. ISSN 1699-5988.

Objective: To describe children's perceptions about nursing characteristics and to know children's valuation of the activities and resources employed during their hospital stay. Method: A descriptive study by means of qualitative techniques was done. 24 children hospitalized in the Infant and Hemato-Oncological Unit participated. To collect the information, a semi structured interview was done at the playroom. The content analysis of the interviews was done following Giorgi's method (1997). Results: Children perceived nurses as close and friendly, and as people who gave properly the information. Respect nurses' missions, children considered that they were to take care of them, and to restore them back to home. Children also suggested that nursing uniforms should be more colourful. According to the valuation of the activities and resources employed during their hospital stay, children claimed for more entertainment and open spaces to play. Hospital meals were criticised by the majority of children, and there was a diversity of opinions respect to their preferences for the pyjamas design. Conclusions: It is important to collect children's opinions, in order to identify their needs. Also, because of the importance that children give to play, it should be considered useful to give or collect information.

Keywords : Children; Hospitalization; Qualitative Research.