Parental presence in the implementation of atraumatic care during children’s hospitalization

Abstract

Hospitalization requires children to adapt to various difficult conditions, such as treatments, health personnel, and separation from their families, especially their parents. Separation from parents often causes significant emotional changes in children like anxiety, which could trigger the trauma of hospitalization in both the short and long terms. The study used a qualitative research method with a descriptive phenomenology study approach. It was conducted in the Child Care Room with 11 participants. Data analysis was performed using Creswell thematic analysis. The study produced three themes: i) nurses support the presence of parents during children’s hospitalization; ii) parental presence is the main source of coping for children during hospitalization; iii) Parents have a role in fulfilling the children’s psychological needs during hospitalization.