TY - JOUR

T1 - The experiences of children, adolescents and their parents in isolation in a Danish paediatric unit

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Thomasen, Anne

AU - Bredahl, Camilla Louise Grauslund

AU - Welsh, Claire Maria

AU - Kjærgaard, Jesper

AU - Hansson, Helena

AU - Poulsen, Anja

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background: Previous studies on adult patients in hospital isolation show that it can be highly stressful, with some patients affected by depression and anxiety. This study aimed to explore how children, adolescents, and their parents perceive isolation and how it affects them physically, psychologically, and socially. Methods: A qualitative approach was used comprising semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and field notes. Findings: Two adolescents and 13 parents were selected to participate in the interviews, while three children and their parents participated in participant observation. Besides the participant observation one of the adolescents and one parent also participated in interviews. The children and adolescents were isolated at the hospital due to bacterial or viral infections or were carriers of an antibiotic resistant bacteria. After performing a thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data, four themes emerged: 1. Differing information provided about bacteria, virus, hygiene precautions, and isolation, 2. Dependence on healthcare professionals, 3. Impact of the environment, and 4. Coping and psychological reactions on isolation. Discussion: The participants conveyed positive and negative experiences and emotions during isolation in relation to daily activities, psychological well-being, and social life. Adolescents and their parents requested clear comprehensible and consistent information on isolation from healthcare professionals. Application to practice: To improve hospital isolation for children, adolescents, and their parents, well-written information on isolation and hygiene precautions is crucial, as are evolving strategies to minimise social exclusion and the emotional impact of isolation.

AB - Background: Previous studies on adult patients in hospital isolation show that it can be highly stressful, with some patients affected by depression and anxiety. This study aimed to explore how children, adolescents, and their parents perceive isolation and how it affects them physically, psychologically, and socially. Methods: A qualitative approach was used comprising semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and field notes. Findings: Two adolescents and 13 parents were selected to participate in the interviews, while three children and their parents participated in participant observation. Besides the participant observation one of the adolescents and one parent also participated in interviews. The children and adolescents were isolated at the hospital due to bacterial or viral infections or were carriers of an antibiotic resistant bacteria. After performing a thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data, four themes emerged: 1. Differing information provided about bacteria, virus, hygiene precautions, and isolation, 2. Dependence on healthcare professionals, 3. Impact of the environment, and 4. Coping and psychological reactions on isolation. Discussion: The participants conveyed positive and negative experiences and emotions during isolation in relation to daily activities, psychological well-being, and social life. Adolescents and their parents requested clear comprehensible and consistent information on isolation from healthcare professionals. Application to practice: To improve hospital isolation for children, adolescents, and their parents, well-written information on isolation and hygiene precautions is crucial, as are evolving strategies to minimise social exclusion and the emotional impact of isolation.

KW - Adolescent perspective

KW - Anxiety

KW - Hospital isolation

KW - Paediatric isolation

KW - Parent perspective

KW - Pediatrics

KW - Psychosocial

U2 - 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.07.007

DO - 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.07.007

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37499440

AN - SCOPUS:85165701395

VL - 72

SP - 121

EP - 128

JO - Journal of Pediatric Nursing

JF - Journal of Pediatric Nursing

SN - 0882-5963

ER -