Emergency Hospitalization of Young Children

In spite of the fact that emergency admission is the most common form of hospitalization for young children, as well as containing the greatest potential for trauma, almost no reference has been made to it in the psychological literature on pediatric hospitalization. To explore the theoretical and practical feasibility of research in this area, a pilot study was designed to investigate the reactions of a sample of children, parents, and staff to the first six hours of emergency hospitalization, compared with those of a similar sample to elective admission. Sixteen children (eight in each group) aged 11 to 48 months were selected on a time-sample basis from the patient population of a large, metropolitan, pediatric hospital and were followed by trained observors using a specially designed observation schedule. The results indicated that, as expected, emergency does constitute an even greater stress for children, parents, and staff that the already stressful situation of elective admission. In both conditions however, the results were more complex and more disturbing than anticipated. The implications of these findings, as well as suggestions for further research, are discussed

Medical emergency · MEDLINE · Political science · Child and Adolescent Health · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Medicine · Pediatric Pain Management Techniques · Psychology

• The Effects of Hospitalisation and Medical Procedures on Children and Their Families

  Robert J Kirkby, Thomas A Whelan•Journal of Family Studies•1996

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• Separation reaction of psychiatrically hospitalized children

  Open Access•Wun Jung Kim, Sung-Up Hahn et al.•Child Psychiatry & Human…•1991

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• Emergency room use and access to alternative sources of care

  Open Access•Michael B Kleiman•Sociology of Health & Illness•1979

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• Patient's perceptions and uses of a pediatric emergency room

  Open Access•Lawrence Kahn, Mary Anderson et al.•Social Science & Medicine (1967•1973

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• The effect of general anesthesia, surgery and hospitalization upon the behavior of children

  Harold T Davenport, John S Werry•American Journal of Orthopsychiatry•1970

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• A study of the emotional reactions of children and families to hospitalization and illness

  Dane G Prugh, Elizabeth M Staub et al.•American Journal of Orthopsychiatry•1953

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• Hospitals, Children, and Their Families

  D Austin, David W S Austin et al.•Journal of Marriage and the Family•1972

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• Utilization of the Hospital Emergency Department

  Julius A Roth•Journal of Health and Social…•1971

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