Quality of life of children hospitalized in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic led to sudden and challenging changes.In addition to new coronavirus hospitalizations, children continue to be hospitalized due to other causes, which demands enormous caution to reconcile preventive measures to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 with actions to guarantee quality of life during hospitalization. METHODS: Aiming to offer quality of life for children hospitalized in the current pandemic, a literature review was carried out, with subsequent critical analysis, using databases and relevant descriptors, such as “quality of life”, “hospitalized child”, and “coronavirus infections”. RESULTS: The themes found were communication, reception, attention to the families needs, playing in the hospital and playful stimulation and continuation of the schooling process.Communication is anessentialskillto ensure humanizedand qualifiedcare practices, important for good adherence and response to treatment. As for the reception,theemotional,social,spiritual,and physical spheres must beconsidered. In order to providecomprehensivecare,itis essential to knowthechild’s familycontext. Playis oneof themain occupationsof thechild’scontext, being a way for the development of various capacities of adaptation, interaction, and a source of physical and emotional stability for children. Maintaining the schooling process can mitigate the significant losses that hospitalisolation brings. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that, in order to offer quality of life in the pediatric hospital context nowadays, one must have a holistic and interdisciplinary view.

Repercussões impostas pela pandemia no cuidado à criança com transtorno mental em uma unidade pediátrica

“…Assim, esses espaços não puderam ser utilizados, demandando das instituições o planejamento de estratégias para assegurar as atividades recreativas e terapêuticas no próprio quarto e/ou leito da criança. Com isso, incentivou-se a disponibilização de materiais exclusivos e intransferíveis de pintura, leitura, assim como jogos e brinquedos que pudessem ser descartados na alta da criança (18) .…”

Repercussions imposed by the pandemic on the care for children with mental disorders in a pediatric unit

“…Thus, these spaces could not be used, requiring institutions to plan strategies to ensure recreational and therapeutic activities in the child's room and/or bed. With this, it was encouraged the use of exclusive and non-transferable materials for painting, reading, as well as games and toys that could be discarded at the child's hospital discharge (18) . Rev Gaúcha Enferm.…”