Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2011, 2(3):272-280

Ethic problems during child hospitalization

Žaneta Beránková

Department of Children's surgery, Silesian Hospital in Opava

Objective: The aim of the research was to describe the experience of hospitalized children (adolescents), accompaniment of hospitalized children preschool and younger school age and general nurses with ethical problems during the hospitalization of children on the standard children's ward.

Methods: Qualitative research was conducted. For data collection was used non-standardized interview. The research group consisted of eight informants, persons accompanying the child during hospitalization (n = 5), hospitalized children in adolescence age (n = 2) and child nurse (n = 1). Based on qualitative data analysis were created four categories (1. informed consent, 2. the presence of a loved one, 3. understandable information 4. care of nurses ), which were further divided into subcategories.

Results: The most common ethical problems in the child's hospitalization on the standard ward respondents were stated: problems with informed consent in single-parent families, lack of information about the child's disease and child's health, the deficit in the area of education, lack of communication with the nurse and lack of care. Adolescents considered as the ethical problem during hospitalization the feeling of little respect for autonomy in deciding of themselves, the need for greater privacy and respect for the feelings of shame.

Conclusion: Majority of ethical problems can be prevented by mastering effective communication and sufficient awareness, and this can be achieved before the hospitalization of child in the ambulance of GP for children and adolescents, or in specialist clinic.

Keywords: ethics, ethical problem, hospitalized child, legal guardian, nurse

Published: September 30, 2011  Show citation