Hospitalized children’s representations of their relationship with nurses and doctors

Abstract

This article reports an explorative study which aims to investigate hospitalized children's views of their relationships with nurses and doctors. Twenty-seven school-aged children and adolescents from 6 to 15 years old in the paediatric haematology and oncology ward of an Italian hospital participated in the study. Each participant was asked to draw him or herself with a doctor or nurse from the ward while they were doing something. The drawings were analysed using Pictorial Assessment of Interpersonal Relationships (PAIR) and a qualitative analysis. The results showed that the participants viewed their relationships with health professionals positively, in particular with the nurses. This relationship was perceived as close, intimate, cohesive and without conflict. In some cases it became an emotional bond. Finally, this relationship helped the patients to cope with painful and uncomfortable medical procedures, which gradually became familiar and accepted. The clinical implications of this study are discussed.

The waiting room as a relational space: young patients and their families' experience in a day hospital

“…in press) and in drawing (Corsano et al . ), has been interpreted in the literature as an attempt to control the anxiety of one's disease status or to exercise control over a reality perceived as uncertain and painful (Barbieri et al . ).…”

Reminiscing on acute and chronic events in children with cancer and their parents: An exploratory study

“…Children, however, could show greater difficulty in tackling this process of re‐elaboration in an autonomous way. On the one hand, they are able to express information, emotions, and points of view concerning their experience of illness and hospitalization (Barbieri, Bennati, Capretto, Ghinelli, & Vecchi, ; Battrick & Glasper, ; Corsano et al, ; Corsano et al, ; Wilson, Megel, Enenbach, & Carlson, ). On the other, they need help and support from parents in order to reflect on and give meaning to their experiences (Peterson & McCabe, ).…”

A Study on the Psychological Status of Hospitalized Children and Their Perceptions of Hospital and Sickness Through Drawings

“…It is important to understand children's perceptions of sickness and hospital in order to reduce and eliminate the negative effects of hospitalization experiences on the psychological well-being of the children. A number of studies have utilised drawings in child samples for the assessment of emotions related to pain; hospital-related fears ; ascertaining children's wishes and feelings about hospital life; children's representations of their relationship with nurses and doctors; and anxiety, aggression and self-esteem in children with cancer (12,14,(28)(29)(30). However, no studies have focused on the concepts of sickness, hospitalization and hospital arrangements by implementing a content analysis approach or attempted to combine the emotional status of the sick children and hospital arrangements.…”