Child-reported hospital fears in 4 to 6-year-old children. 2009

Marja Salmela, and Sanna Salanterä, and Eeva Aronen
Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Health Care and Social Services, Degree Programme Nursing, Helsinki, Finland.

The aim of this study was to describe hospital-related fears of 4 to 6-year-old children. Data were collected by interviewing 4 to 6-year-old children (N=90) in Finland, who were chosen through purposive sampling in which volunteers were asked to take part in the study. Data were gathered by semi-structured interview, supported by pictures, and reviewed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Results revealed that more than 90% of children said they were afraid of at least one thing in a hospital. Most fears were categorized by nursing interventions, fears of being a patient, and fears caused by the developmental stage of the child. Children also expressed fears caused by the unfamiliar environment or lack of information, child-staff relations, and the physical, social, and symbolic environment. The main result was that hospital care increased the amount of fears in 4 to 6-year-old children. The information is useful in preventing, identifying, and alleviating the hospital fear of healthy or sick children.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004989 Ethics The philosophy or code pertaining to what is ideal in human character and conduct. Also, the field of study dealing with the principles of morality. Egoism,Ethical Issues,Metaethics,Moral Policy,Natural Law,Situational Ethics,Ethical Issue,Ethics, Situational,Issue, Ethical,Issues, Ethical,Law, Natural,Laws, Natural,Moral Policies,Natural Laws,Policies, Moral,Policy, Moral
D005239 Fear The affective response to an actual current external danger which subsides with the elimination of the threatening condition. Threat Cues,Threat Sensitivity,Cue, Threat,Fears,Sensitivity, Threat,Threat Cue,Threat Sensitivities
D005387 Finland A country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. The capital is Helsinki. Aland Islands,Åland Islands
D006760 Hospitalization The confinement of a patient in a hospital. Hospitalizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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