Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/36790

JaLCDOI : 10.14943/35049

KEYWORDS : orientation;preparation;play therapy;pediatric nursing

Introduction: Most of the medical care children are to receive is determined by their parents. Information to be provided for children themselves is understood by their parents beforehand, and is then chosen and given by medical employees in consideration of children's age, development stage, treatment and care. However, survey on information provided by medical employees, have never been reported. We, therefore, studied the orientation on hospitalization, treatment and operation as information provided for children to understand the present condition in Japan. Methods: 1) We made the questionnaire about the orientation for children to send by mail 2) We studied the orientation given for children at 130 wards of 63 facilities, such as university hospitals containing children's wards and children's hospitals which answered the questionnaire. Results: 1) The orientation for children themselves on hospitalization, treatment and operation is given in 121 wards (99%). 2) The orientation is given not only by nurses in charge but also various specialists. 3) A lot answered that the purposes of the orientation are to gain cooperative attitude for safe and easy hospitalization, treatment and operation and to gain mental preparation. As for the age of the children and the best time for the orientation, several tendencies are shown depending on the purpose of the orientation. 4) Most orientations are given verbally. Most materials such as pamphlets are written for adults and parents, while few audiovisual materials such as VCRs or picture books are prepared or used. Consequently, it has been revealed that the orientation for children in the field of child nursing is widespread. However, materials or the way of giving orientation meeting their development stage or the ability of their understanding have never sufficiently developed and, therefore, improvement at the stage of giving information is required.