PREPARATION OF THE CHILD FOR HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Hospitalization, whether elective planned in advance, or a result of emergency, or trauma is stressful for children of all ages and their families where at the experience of hospitalization the children are in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by strange people,equipments and frightening sights and sounds. The children are subjected to various routines and invasive procedures possibly even surgery .

The aim of this study was to study the effect of preparation of the child for hospital experience . The study was carried out at in patient pediatric medicine department at Tanta university hospital . The sample of this study consisted of 100 children accompanied by their mothers admitted to the hospital for first time . Children age ranged from 6-12 years, both sex were involved and complicated cases were excluded.

The sample was divided randomly into 2 equal groups where:

1- Study group:

Involved (50) children hospitalized at odd days and prepared by the researcher for hospitalization in addition to routine hospital care .